Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos, Finland, Finnish Lapland Building, Design, Architects

Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos

Inari Building Development, Finland – design by Halo Arkkitehdit

29 Oct 2017

The Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos, Finland

Location: Inari, northern part of Finnish Lapland

Design: Halo Arkkitehdit with M3 Architects

Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos

This building is located in the northern part of Finnish Lapland. Sajos is the centre of culture and administration for the Sami people. The building includes not just the usual spaces you would find in a cultural centre – offices, restaurant, library – but a parliament hall and auditorium. The structure is in-situ concrete with the facade clad in spruce using a strong vertical rhythm. The centre will form a critical support network for this indigenous people on the northern fringe of Europe.

Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland
photograph : Mika Huisman

The Sami Cultural Centre Sajos is located in the village of Inari. The Sami, the only indigenous people in EU. The building creates better possibilities for the Sami in Finland to preserve and develop their own language, culture and business.

On site plan the cultural centre is formed roughly as a cross, creating different yards facing natural or man-made attractions in the vicinity and connecting the building to it’s environment. Shape is carefully plotted to avoid harming old trees on the site. It is a modern interpretation of forms found in ancient sámi handicrafts.

Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland
photographs : Mika Huisman

Different functions are packed in their respective wings, leaving a large, flowing space as a lobby in the middle. Functions include: Sámi parliament hall and an acoustically flexible auditorium, a multipurpose hall, meeting rooms, restaurant, library, archives, studio and editing facilities, classrooms and offices.

The load-bearing structure is mainly concrete cast in-situ to facilitate reasonably complex geometry. Thermal insulation exceeds the rigorous Finnish standards. Technically HVAC- systems are state-of-the art for further energy savings.

The facade is defined by massive vertical planks aligned to eavesline. Behind the planks the facade is clad in vertical boards and glass. All timber in the facade is spruce, treated with iron sulfate.

In the interior wooden surfaces have a great role in creating the atmosphere. The smoothly curving walls of auditorium and parliament hall are clad in horizontal pine boards to give them a feel of a handcraft object.They are in contrast to the buildings rough exterior. Inside the parliament hall and auditorium have their visually and acoustically distinct characters.

Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland
photos : Mika Huisman

Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos – Building Information

Title: The Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos / Saamelaiskulttuurikeskus Sajos
Architects: HALO ARCHITECTS / Janne Laukka, Tuomas Niemelä, Milla Parkkali
M3 ARCHITECTS / Janne Pihlajaniemi
Gross floor area: 4,800 sqm
Size of the site: 3,6700 sqm

Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Finland images / information from architects

Location:Inari, Finland

New Finnish Architecture

Contemporary Architecture in Finland

Finnish Architecture Design – chronological list

Finnish Architecture News

Finnish Architecture

Another Finnish Lapland building on e-architect:

Ski Resort Levi
Design: BIG
Lapland Ski Resort
image from architects
Lapland Ski Resort

A recent Cultural Centre building on e-architect:

Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn, Sweden
Design: schmidt hammer lassen architects
Cultural Centre Karlshamn
picture from architects
Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn

Cultural Centres
Kunsthaus Weiz
photo © Paul Ott

Finnish Architect : Studio Listings

Finnish Buildings

Four-cornered villa, Virrat, central Finland
Avanto Architects
Four-cornered villa Finland
photo : Kuvio.com
Four-cornered villa

Maritime Centre Vellamo, Kotka
Architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki
Maritime Centre Vellamo
photograph : Timo Vesterinen
Maritime Centre Vellamo

Kuokkala Church, Jyväskylä
Lassila Hirvilammi Architects
Kuokkala Church Building
photograph : Jussi Tianen / Mikko Auerniitty
Kuokkala Church

Finnish Architect – Alvar Aalto

Arctic Culture Centre, Hammerfest, Norway
Design: a-lab architects
Arctic Culture Centre
image from architect
Arctic Culture Centre

Finnish Buildings

Finland Architects

Comments / photos for the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos Lapland page welcome

Finland