Puuhi Community Space / OOPEAA

Initiated by the villagers, Puuhi is a space for a shared activity for the people of Soini. The goal was to create a socially and ecologically sustainable wooden building of high architectural quality using local materials and drawing from local skills and resources. Anssi Lassila of OOPEAA, a native of Soini himself, was asked to design it, and the final building is a result of a seamless collaboration between him and a skilled local builder, Aki Alatalo. Adjusting to the rhythm of the seasons, the design and building proceeded in stages over a two-year span. Apart from the drawings for the building permit, only hand-drawn sketches were made. The plans were flexibly modified in response to the arising needs and to the availability of materials.