Friendly giants

Espoo is Finland’s second largest city and directly neighbours the capital Helsinki. Recently, an apartment block in the southern part of Espoo added over 200 rental apartments, only a few metro stops from the Helsinki city centre. The apartment building with up to ten floors has become an architectural landmark of the region.
 
“The project is very visible towards the north, east and south and allows stunning views in all directions,” says Sara Frankenhaeuser, architect at the Finnish firm Arco. Residents look out over the treetops of the wider Espoo area, towards the sea, and even to the skyline of Helsinki.

Curving along the edge of the property, the Gräsantörmä apartment block forms a visually harmonious row, aligning with the area’s building tradition. Situated on a multi-layered rock slope, the project had an exceptionally long planning phase. A pure masonry façade, as required by local brick traditions, was nearly impossible due to safety and logistical concerns.
 
The contractor, architect, brick supplier, and element manufacturer collaborated and found a solution that met both aesthetic and practical demands. Despite its height, the building blends into the cityscape through the colour effects on the façade: The walls are optically divided into two parts, while white-framed windows and consistent brick seams unify the blocks into a coherent whole.
 
“The white frames are made with 45 mm thick brick slips, while the rest of the façade uses 20 mm brick slips, creating a shadow effect,” Frankenhaeuser explains.

The façade stands out, offering an instantly recognisable aesthetic. When choosing the right product for the façade, architect Sara Frankenhaeuser focused on the practical aspects of the Kare range:
“We were looking for a brick with a rough texture available in different ­dimensions and colours. We used five colours and two dimensions as well as full size bricks that needed to work well together,” she says.
 
When cut in half, the Kare brick can be used from both sides: The colour difference creates an interesting, multicolour finish on the façade. The Gräsantörmä project was not just an innovative residential development. It also served as a pilot for the Kare brick slip product range.
 
The results were satisfying, both aesthetically and economically. The cost-efficient yet high-quality brick helped to create a visually intriguing landmark for the city.