Sataman Viilu – a tour de force of modern log building

Sataman Viilu and its inventive architecture are a sight for sore eyes. Whichever way you look at the building, there’s something inspired: the black-clad facade is made of carbonised larch, and when viewed from the lakeside, the translucent finish of the log cladding speaks volumes of the power of the Finnish forest. Sataman Viilu is a climate-smart building using modern log technology that will delight visitors long into the future.

Traditional log meets modern architectural language

Sataman Viilu is the perfect landmark in Jyväskylä Harbour. The sauna and restaurant services of Osuuskauppa Keskimaa treat visitors to three public saunas, excellent event and conference facilities and delicious food made using local ingredients. All this in a Finnish wooden building in a beautiful lakeside setting. “Viilu is proof positive that stylish and complex buildings can also be built within a strict budget,” says Honkarakenne CEO Marko Saarelainen.

The log structures of Sataman Viilu were designed, made and delivered by Honkarakenne. The building was designed by architects Marko Simsiö and Johannes Koskela.

“On the outside, the building is characterised by the dark and sculptural facade, which protects the warm-coloured interior and terrace,” says Simsiö. The architects paid particular attention to the view towards the lake and ensured that the wooden building would blend in well in the centre of the town. Various types of wood have been used in the log structure, exterior and interior cladding and furniture,” says Simsiö.

“The bustle of the harbour becomes dimmer when it is time to relax – the sauna terrace and lake pool are placed in sheltered areas. “In Sataman Viilu, traditional and eco-friendly log meets modern architectural language and functionality. The building looks great and is very close to what we outlined in the original architectural concept. For the lakeside walls and the gables, we decided to retain the natural colour of the logs out of respect for the Finnish log building tradition and sauna culture,” he continues.

A combined effort for a modern, welcoming facility in central Finland

The logs from Finnish forests did not have to travel a long distance to Jyväskylä Harbour. They came from the Honkarakenne factory in Karstula, less than a hundred kilometres away. Local expertise played a major role from the design and construction onwards.

Sataman Viilu has been awarded the Green Key eco label, and the restaurant makes the most of the fine locally produced ingredients.

“Viilu has the look and feel of central Finland in every way. Many people from central Finland were employed from the construction stage onwards, and we have them to thank for the superb results and for ensuring that such a unique project was completed on schedule. Viilu is also an important employer for local restaurant and service staff. It is open all year round, and the meeting and function room have attracted plenty of attention,” says Osuuskauppa Keskimaa CEO Antti Määttä.

Sataman Viilu, a fine example of sustainable construction

Sataman Viilu is an exceptional building – a trailblazer in climate-smart construction as well as a wonderful gathering place.“The way it’s been built shows the way for sustainable construction in the future. A sustainable and healthy log building functions as a carbon store. The material significantly reduces the climate impact during construction and use. I believe that this is also important to local residents and Viilu’s customers,” says Honkarakenne CEO Saarelainen.

The Green Key eco label proves that Sataman Viilu is at the forefront of environmental sustainability. According to architects Simsiö and Koskela, this project created a unique building in which a modern, highly functional design classic has been created with logs, a traditional material in Finland and a proven eco-friendly choice.

Healthy wood is a long-lasting building material that also creates an acoustically pleasant environment. “We shared Honkarakenne’s enthusiasm about aiming to achieve something so significant and unique. Combined with its unmatched expertise in wood construction in Finland, the fact that Honkarakenne is also a local company made them the natural choice for us,” Määttä says. Sataman Viilu welcomes visitors to relax and enjoy the clean, healthy indoor air of a top-quality log building.