Timber hotel is built outside Helsinki

The winning scheme in a 24-hour design competition organised by UPM has been constructed on an island facing Helsinki.

Pieta-Linda Auttila’s winning design, a timber hotel resembling an exploded piece of wood, will stay on Valkosaari Island for the summer.

Builders took five weeks to construct the structure, which is not intended for public use, although people may be allowed to stay in it.

“The requirement was that the hotel design could be realsied using standard sawn timber available at DIY stores,” said Antti Ratia, UPM Timber’s customer communications manager.

Enquiries have already been made to procure the building after its summer stint on the island.