An Accoya leisure centre with pool at Matinkylä

At Espoo, in Finland, the new Matinkylä leisure centre, opened to the public on 4 April 2022, makes extensive use of Accoya wood both outside and inside. Designed by the architects Lehto Peltonen Valkama along climate-friendly lines, the building is entirely wrapped in Accoya cladding, roof included, with vertical timber louvres on the east and west facades to limit heat gain and glare. A large Accoya bench welcomes visitors at the entrance. In the indoor pool area, the ceiling and the upper walls are clad in Accoya battens, perfectly stable despite the constant humidity. Made and installed by the approved supplier Novenberg, the wood was left uncoated: it will grey naturally outside and keep its vanilla tone indoors. The building also has geothermal heating and 222 solar panels, on a sloping site used with ingenuity.