Wood City in Helsinki

Accoya wood was selected for the cladding of “Wood City”, a new development in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. Built in two phases, the quarter comprises residential buildings, completed in February 2019, followed by a hotel, offices and an inner courtyard. Launched in 2014, with work starting at the end of 2015, the project stands out for buildings of up to eight storeys built entirely in timber, load-bearing structures included. Accoya was the preferred timber because sustainability was the priority: its environmental credentials met the criteria of the green building ratings. The architects at Anttinen Oiva Architects wanted a spectacular result, pleasing both visually and acoustically, which Accoya delivered perfectly. Wood City combines design, community, good transport connections and sustainability to demonstrate the versatility of timber. Photographs: Mikko Hannula.