Master's Thesis
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture 2022
Building Technology
The thesis proposes a process of care and repair for a case study site in Helsinki's Tapulikaupunki. The site is owned by HEKA Oy (Helsinki City Apartments) and it consists of two seven storey towers built in 1977. The buildings are made with a prefabricated element frame and facade.
The design proposes a repair process consisting of moderate changes. The apartments' accessibility is improved and common spaces are reconfigured. A new bike storage and garden pavilion are built on the yard while the old bike storage is transformed into a new club room with access to the improved outdoor spaces.
The renovation is planned as a process where all changes are not made at once, counter to the current renovation practices. Rather the interventions are spaced out on a timeline and building components are replaced and repaired when absolutely necessary to maximize the use of their full service life. The facades are not renewed yet, even with signs of weathering. The facade is repaired with local patching and the concrete elements are monitored to not replace them before they are structurally compromised.
read the complete work here
south elevation
new club room
ground floor floor plan
view from the new garden pavilion
2-7th floor floor plan
