Wood In Architecture Issue 1, 2023

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
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“We wanted to use authentic materials
as the colour source, such as transparent
glass, cast-in-place concrete with both
polished and unpolished surfaces, and wood
to bring added warmth and atmosphere,”
explained Viitanen. “This sets high technical
requirements for the materials because the
colour comes from the material itself and
therefore must be of high quality in terms
of their technical standards. As the batten
cladding continues from exterior walls to
interior surfaces through a glass wall, it was
extremely important that the same colour
tone continues from out to indoors.”
Indoors, the Lunawood ThermoWood was
left untreated and it retains the warm
signature colour, haptic feel and the natural
fragrance of the wood. Outdoors, the battens
were treated with UV-protected surface
treatment agent to maintain the brown
colour. The coherent batten look seamlessly
integrates the whole and enables the unity
of the architecture and style throughout the
building. Dimensionally stable Lunawood
ThermoWood battens allow long parallel lines
and curved lines to continue from outdoors
to the seven-storey interior atrium space,
as the same Lunawood product can be used
in both purposes. According to Lunawood,
over 1,800m³ of the Lunawood ThermoWood
batten wall was installed — a total of 7,270
pieces over 18,000m.
The atrium space was designed for shared
living, group work and entertainment, and the
horizontal wood trim supports this by evening
out the soundscape and reverberation time
of the space. Also, the wood material brings
warmth and softness to the lobby area as a
counterweight to technical study spaces, such
as laboratories.
ACCURACY AND PRECISION IN
KEY POSITION
Viitanen emphasised that the dimensional
accuracy and precision in installation was
a crucial factor when choosing the wood
material for the building.
“After analysing a large number of wooden
materials, we concluded that no other
material offered technical properties that
would allow us to achieve the required level
of dimensional accuracy and stability when
installing the material, but also in the coming
years. In fact, Lunawood’s ThermoWood was
the only product that met these requirements.
Outdoors, the wood must stay dimensionally
stable, and indoors in installations the ends
of the battens had to extend evenly, with only
a tolerance of 2mm allowed for the space
between them.”
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONS
Sustainability and consideration of ecological
values were also important factors when
1 The entrance of Aurum that leads into the atrium
space is lined with Lunawood ThermoWood
(Image: Wellu Hämäläinen)
2 The wood material brings warmth and softness to
the lobby area (Image: Lunawood)
3 Installing ThermoWood requires no resin, as
claimed by Lunawood, and the entire lifecycle of
the wood is sustainable (Image: Lunawood)
selecting project’s wood material. As the
whole lifecycle of Lunawood ThermoWood
is sustainable, and since the installation of
ThermoWood is resin-free, it supports the
values of the University of Turku and its
position as a responsible leader in society.
Aurum’s design and implementation sought
an Excellent BREEAM environmental rating.
The BREEAM system helps to design and
build a building with the smallest possible
environmental footprint. This was taken into
account in both material selection and space
efficiency, as well as in LVISA solutions.
PRODUCT USED
Luna SHP 42x92 is a Thermowood batten used
primarily for facades, solar shades, interiors
and other decorative surfaces. It is beautiful,
durable, suitable for all climates, and requires
low maintenance. It creates a connection
between urban life and nature and will be
naturally weathered over time when exposed
to UV light, becoming silvery in colour. WIA
WOOD IN ARCHITECTURE • ISSUE 1 – 2023 35