Katajanokan Laituri is a landmark of sustainable timber architecture and the largest wooden building in Finland by volume. Located on the waterfront of Helsinki, it houses the headquarters of Stora Enso and a hotel, using 7,600 m³ of spruce in CLT, glulam, and LVL. The building is carefully designed to complement the neighboring Stora Enso headquarters by Alvar Aalto.
A defining feature of the project is its long, curved double façade, engineered to withstand harsh maritime conditions. The façade’s complexity was developed by Geometria Architecture, commissioned by Haka Pks Oy, through advanced computational design and fabrication modeling. It was divided into hundreds of prefabricated elements, each resolving the geometric transition between a straight timber structure and a smooth curved exterior.
The workflow relied on Rhino and Grasshopper, supported by task-specific scripts and tools such as VisualARQ for BIM data management, along with custom Python code. This integrated digital process enabled direct production of fabrication drawings, CNC data, and assembly information, resulting in a highly efficient construction process.
Overall, Katajanokan Laituri sets a strong benchmark for contemporary timber architecture, demonstrating how digital design tools and sustainable materials can be combined to deliver technically precise and architecturally expressive buildings.
Credits:
- Developer: Keskinäinen työeläkevakuutusyhtiö Varma
- Architectural design: Anttinen-Oiva Architects Oy
- Structural design: Sweco Finland Oy
- Main contractor: Haahtela-rakennuttaminen Oy
- Timber provider: Stora Enso (CLT, LVL), Punkaharjun Puutaito Oy (LVL)
- Timber components, lobby: Raision Puusepät Oy
- Façade contractor: Haka pks Oy
- Façade DfMA: Geometria Architecture Oy
- Source
