Virkkunen & Co wins the first VUODEN METALLIJULKISIVU with the Kalasatama Electricity Substation

At PLOOTU19, a seminar devoted to metal in architecture, the first VUODEN METALLIJULKISIVU was announced today. The winner is Arkkitehtitoimisto Virkkunen & Co for the Kalasatama Electricity Substation in Helsinki.

– We are very honored and happy over the prize, because it was quite a demanding project which was made possible by the excellent co-operation between the client, the designers and the contractor, said Tuomas Kivinen, architect at Arkkitehtitoimisto Virkkunen & Co.

Even though it is a quite small project, the jury was impressed by the creative way of using the material and how the project fulfilled all the criteria for the prize; using the possibilities with steel and metal, innovation and sustainability – both environmental and social.

The justification
This unique building has managed to meet some of the biggest challenges of today – environmental and social sustainability. In a small scale, in its own way, with an attitude, steel and aluminum it has become an upcycling role model. With a new way of using a metal facade, in a continuous change of expression, partly through the shadow effects and partly through art by the citizen, this building stands for possibilities and dialogue.

The winner received the honor, flowers, a diploma and a trophy designed by the metal artist Marie Louise Kold.

During the award ceremony, there was also a special mention given out to the finalist PES-architects for Strait Culture and Art Center in China.

The justification, Special mention
With a traditional handcraft the soft material has been used to create a new conceptual shape. Thanks to deep understanding for the material and its techniques, the roofs have become a protective, even hurricane safe, and attractive fifth facade that especially appeals to the drone-age and wants to be seen and admired from above. This cultural arena shows us that less is much more. Let’s hope for a Bilbao effect.

VUODEN METALLIJULKISIVU is awarded by the sheet metal industry and is given to a Finnish architecture firm, for a project where the possibilities and properties of the metal is given care to in an innovative and sustainable ways; both environmental and social. The price has a decade-old tradition in Sweden and is organized for the first time in Finland due to high levels of interest.

For more info:
Tuomas Kivinen, Arkkitehtitoimisto Virkkunen & Co
+358(0)400 613030, tuomas.kivinen@virkkunenco.fi

Åsa Ragnarsson (producer of PLOOTU19), Far from standard
+46 708 808219, asa@farfromstandard.se

The award Vuoden Metallijulkisivu 2019 and the architecture event PLOOTU19 is arranged by Alupro, Aurubis, Hilti, Julkisivuyhdistys, Novelis, Outokumpu, Purso, Ruukki, Rheinzink, SFS Intec & SSAB.