(BDT_24_014) Tila Residential Building

Description

In this project, residents purchased an empty unit within the building and fitted out the apartment on their own. The architects provided the future residents with a catalogue of possible layout variants as well as information brochures on guidelines and legal requirements. The residents then fitted out their unit according to their respective needs and budgets. These individual solutions are embedded within a robust architectural frame that defines the structure of the building as well as the precise design of the communal areas and the façades. The result is an open framework that can accommodate diverse lifestyles and personal preferences.

Seen from outside, the building is relatively inconspicuous. Its size and materials – red brick, concrete and steel – correspond to those of its neighbours and it contributes to the identity of the new residential district of Arabianranta. The building conforms to the high standards and norms in Finland: the walls between the units are the supporting structure, the building envelope is well insulated and every unit is mechanically ventilated. The north side of the building has few windows while the balcony façade presents two-storey glazed fronts that look onto the courtyard to the south and ensure that the interiors are well illuminated. The core of the building comprises the five storeys of five metre- high apartment units that extend from the front to the back of the building. Communal facilities and functional spaces are on the ground floor, and many have a direct connection to the outdoor areas.

The concept explores the degree to which residents can themselves contribute to creating individual, affordable housing in the city through their own means and resources. The project requires personal initiative and a basic interest in planning and construction on the part of the residents, making the approach less suitable for mainstream situations and large housing associations. But as a niche product, the idea of open building frameworks presents a viable approach to self-determined building as part of a collective.

The project was initiated by the architects who developed a concept for providing dwelling units for purchase in a basic unfinished state. The owners were then responsible for fitting out the apartments as they wish. Most of the residents are young families who were looking for affordable and personalisable housing in the city. The group met at the beginning of the self-build phase and a sense of community arose through the joint procurement of building materials, mutual assistance and exchanges of experiences. The residents of “Tila” continue to meet up regularly for barbeques and joint film evenings.

While exploring potential financial possibilities and searching for suitable sites, the architects presented their concept to a series of building contractors and project developers. None were willing to take on the project, fearing that this form of property development would fall foul of building regulations, legal stipulations or not be marketable. The architects then approached the city’s building authority, who proposed a site in the new Arabianranta district. With this basis, they were then able to find an investor.

After finding a site and project developer in 2005, the planning documents were drawn up and project marketing began. Demand was high for the “apartment shells” and by 2007, when planning permission was obtained, all of the apartment units had been sold. In 2009, the first phase of the building was completed, including the building shell, means of access, communal areas and the basic structure of the apartments. Each unit included the bathroom and all kitchen utility connections. The respective residents then undertook the final fitting out of the apartments in a second self-build phase.

The self-build concept of the project entailed a two-stage approach to financing the building. The first phase was financed by a project developer who sold the apartment units (in a vacant state) on the open market. After all the apartments had been sold, the building was transferred into the ownership of the building collective. As the building was erected on a site owned by the municipality, the council regulated the sale price of the apartments so that these were not more expensive than the actual building costs. The residents then financed the second self-build phase privately.