A Lesson on Locality

A new school in the Helsinki district of Käpylä elegantly plays with architectural themes from different decades.

Text Pentti Kareoja

The school building’s main facade creates a terminus motif to Pohjolankatu, the long visual axis that cuts through the 1920s Puu-Käpylä wooden residential district. Photo: Kuvatoimisto Kuviolle. Kuva: Kuvatoimisto Kuvio

Kottby Comprehensive School
AOR Architects / Erkko Aarti, Erica Österlund, Niina Laukia, Heljä Koskimäki
Location Pohjolankatu 45, Helsinki
Gross Area 5 500 m²
Completion 2025

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Pentti Kareoja is Professor Emeritus at Aalto University and a founding partner of ARK-house Architects. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Finnish Architectural Review from 1992 to 1995.

Published in 5 – 2025 - New Visions

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