Kuokkala in Jyväskylä
The competition proposal sought new solutions to the current housing construction challenges.
what
Site plan, competition proposal, honorable mention
where
Kuokkala, Jyväskylä, western Finland
when
2018
size
10 000 m2
client
The City of Jyväskylä
manufacturer
collaborators
Anni Vanha-Patokoski and Niamh NiMorain
photographs
Anni Vanha-Patokoski, Niamh NiMorain and NEMO architects
'Avoimet ovet' (Open Doors) competition proposal received an honourable mention in the City of Jyväskylä’s housing competition. Kuokkala's center is a vibrant, communal village that comprises three buildings. Each building forms a tight-knit community that engages with its surroundings.
Dividing the town into three buildings creates smaller units that are further divided into their own families. The apartments in the new center of Kuokkala are designed to be flexible, enabling versatile apartment layouts and personalized apartments to be constructed. At a later stage, additional rooms can be added to the apartments when needed. The apartments are also adaptable from the inside, always opening to two directions of air.
Each new resident joins the cooperative that manages the block, allowing for a flexible and affordable financing model. By doing so, each resident owns a share of the block and can choose the apartment that best suits their needs. If a resident's living situation changes, they can move to another apartment within the block that better meets their needs without purchasing a new apartment.
The cooperative pays for the smallest apartment, and the resident pays rent to the cooperative for any additional square meters. Residents can generate their own services in the area, and the revenue generated can be used to offset housing expenses.