Energy solutions are integrated into the architecture of wooden construction in Mynämäki

The residential area project being planned in Mynämäki is researching and developing ecological and healthy construction. The aim is to improve the energy efficiency of wooden construction by integrating energy production solutions as an integral part of the structures and by testing new energy solutions covering the entire area. The Ministry of the Environment awarded the consortium responsible for the planning an 80,000 euro grant from the Growth and Development from Wood support programme to implement the Gadolin – A New Era for Wooden House Areas project. The area also serves as a pilot for the development of a new type of sustainable residential area construction.

The challenge of wooden construction is its relatively low energy efficiency. Heating and living in houses produces up to 39% of Finnish climate emissions. The project aims to find a comprehensive solution that will make a residential area dominated by wooden houses completely energy self-sufficient and housing carbon neutral.

The project will develop an experimental wooden-structured sustainable housing area that promotes quality of life and building health, combining smart technology, energy self-sufficiency and increasing social capital with wooden construction. Smart technology applications to be implemented include smart building technology, energy production solutions integrated into structures, renewable energy production, energy distribution and seasonal storage, regional energy optimization and waste heat utilization. Of these, increasing social capital and planning energy distribution and seasonal storage will be carried out as external work simultaneously with the project.

The project will be implemented in collaboration

The main responsible actor for the project is Arctic Smart Village Oy, which developed the Älykylä® concept on which the area is based. In addition, the project consortium includes Vastuu Group, Platform Of Trust, Holda Group, Holda Energy Solutions Oy, NollaE Oy, SustainaBuild Oy, Arkkitehtitoimisto KJ-A Oy and Vuokranet Oy. The project’s steering group is also significant. The steering group includes project expert Simon le Roux from the Ministry of the Environment, CEO Mikko Nousiainen from Green Building Council Finland, CEO Miimu Airaksinen from the Association of Civil Engineers, Chief Representative Markku Hedman from Rakennustieto RTS, professor of architecture Kimmo Lylykangas from TalTech University, expert Salla Nurminen from Sitra, CEO Vesa Silfver from Motiva and CEO Petri Suutarinen from Finreim Oy, who also serves as the chairman of Green Building Council Finland.

The project manager for the project is Development Manager Petri Kittilä from Arctic Smart Village Oy.

What is GADOLIN Smart Village®?

• Cooperative-based group construction project
• Modern wooden house area for 50 residents
• Construction year 2022
• In the first phase, the goal is to build 20 detached houses, 5 mini-houses and a village hall.
• Buildings and area energy-optimized
• Own solar energy production and seasonal storage
• Regional low-temperature network
• Solutions that support sociality and community
• Carpooling and other means of transportation
• Organized sharing economy
• Your own secure data network