Katajanokan Laituri, new wooden landmark in Helsinki, houses hotel that aims to become Finland's most sustainable

The increase in timber construction is a way to create a more sustainable future and achieve Helsinki's goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. Katajanokan Laituri, designed by Anttinen Oiva Architects, is an impressive new solid timber building on Helsinki's coastline that complements the city's distinctive cityscape, right next to the Market Place. The building houses the headquarters of Finnish forestry company Stora Enso and the new design hotel Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4, which aims to become Finland's most sustainable hotel. With the upcoming Museum of Architecture and Design, the area is developing into an exciting new centre for art and design by the sea.

Developing the city's building stock plays a key role in achieving its sustainability goals. It is important for Helsinki to create a vibrant urban environment and make the city's 131 kilometres of coastline even more accessible to residents and visitors. "The aim of transforming the Katajanokka coastal area is to create a vibrant urban area. With this project, we can open up the coastline to the people of Helsinki. A building made of wood, which is sustainable and has the lowest possible carbon footprint, meets the city's goals," says deputy mayor Anni Sinnemäki.

Helsinki's new Museum of Architecture and Design will further enhance the area's appeal. The first phase of the design tender closed on 29 August 2024.

Katajanokan Laituri is a modern Finnish wooden building whose timeless architecture is the work of award-winning Anttinen Oiva Architects. Owned by the Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, the building houses the headquarters of forestry company Stora Enso, which also supplied the load-bearing elements made of solid wood for the building. Made of Finnish and Swedish timber, the four-storey building combines pioneering architectural methods with traditional and sustainable materials.

The wooden structures have been left visible as much as possible in the interior, and nature is also a strong presence: in addition to solar panels, the building has a green roof with various plant species and a small birch forest grows in the hotel's atrium. The building acts as a carbon store and is built to last at least 100 years. The building is also prepared for flooding and can handle a water level rise of more than 3 metres.

The former headquarters of Stora Enso, designed by legendary Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, is right next to the new building. The district is also known for its Art Nouveau architecture from the early 20th century. A short walk away is Helsinki's historic centre, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel.

The new Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 aims to become the most sustainable hotel in Finland, both in terms of the building and the hotel's functions and services. It will apply for LEED Platinum environmental certification for the entire building, aiming for carbon neutrality and energy use exclusively from renewable sources. The hotel will also apply for Green Key and Sustainable Travel Finland certifications.

The hotel has 164 rooms, 43 of which offer unobstructed sea views. The hotel also has conference facilities, a seaside café and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Market Place and South Harbour. The hotel restaurant Harbore is run by Sauli Kemppainen, a Finnish chef with a passion for simplicity and pure flavours. He has previously been awarded a Michelin star. Each dish at Harbore consists of just two main ingredients prepared in different ways, such as reindeer and onion, with up to 85 per cent of the ingredients used coming from Finland and the Nordic region.