JKMM Architects win 1st and 3rd prizes in Shanghai Expo 2010 Finnish pavilion competition

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By Hannu Pöppönen
     
      The Finnish architect's office of JKMM Architects, established in 1998 by four partners Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen, and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä, has won the 1st and 3rd prizes in the Shanghai Expo 2010 Finnish Pavilion competition.
      Previous works designed by JKMM Architects include the wooden church of Viikki in Helsinki, the Turku Central Library, and the Verkatehdas concert and congress centre in Hämeenlinna.
     
The total number of proposals in the competition was 104, and the jury regarded the general standard of the competition as high.
      According to the jury, JKMM’s prize-winning proposal entitled Kirnu (”Churn”) has an impressive and lucid exterior architecture.
      Resembling a slightly asymmetric bowl, the round Kirnu has premises on three floors.
      The building is surrounded by a pool of water, and a bridge leads across to the entrance of the exhibition premises.
      In the middle of the building, there is a high atrium or inner yard, the top of which can be open to the elements or covered with canvas. The inner walls of the building are made of fabric and it is possible to use them as screens for displaying images.
      The exhibition premises surround the atrium area, and they are reached along spiralling ramps.
      The pavilion also houses a restaurant, a store, and some meeting and conference space.
     
The theme of the Shanghai World Expo is ”Better City, Better Life”, representing a central concern of the international community for future policy-making, urban strategies, and sustainable development.
      The supporting structures of the Finnish pavilion are steel, and the white shingle facade will be made of paper/plastic composite sheets, which are an industrial recycling product.
     
The construction of the Finnish Pavilion will start in February 2009.
      The other Nordic countries will be located next to Finland at the Shanghai World Expo. The participants will have the site at their disposal only for the period of the Expo, after which the buildings are to be sold and removed to another location where they can be used for some other purpose.
      The Shanghai World Expo will be open from May 1st to October 31st, 2010, and the expected number of visitors will be up to 80 million.
     
The proposals for the competition will be on display at Yliopistokatu 5 in Helsinki until October 12th.


Links:
  JKMM Architects
  World Expo Shanghai 2010 Official Website
  Finpro: Finland at Expo 2010

HANNU PÖPPÖNEN / Helsingin Sanomat
hannu.popponen@hs.fi