Mertakaari Social Housing

Completed in 1997, this cross-gabled residential building stands out from its surroundings with its distinctive architectural character. Notable features of the rental apartment building include apartments with windows facing multiple directions, unique attic-floor apartments, and external stairwells. In his sketches, architect Olli Lehtovuori emphasised the importance of responding to the site’s natural conditions: “The shape of the topography should be felt, while securing convenient passages from the lower yard to the northern yard/woods (…) The original nature and movement of water on the site must be considered.”

The building’s distinctive form is a variation of Lehtovuori’s Hansa type. At the core of the type is the adaptation of living spaces to the sectional possibilities offered by the cross-gabled roof, allowing the typology to range from detached houses to taller apartment buildings. The building’s unique aesthetic combines references to vernacular architecture with postmodernism. The external staircase was originally conceived as a shared balcony and meeting place for residents. Enclosed by glazed gables, it forms a distinctive semi-public space within the building.

The ground floor contains communal facilities, while the courtyard extends this shared space into the outdoor environment. The courtyard was designed and built by the residents themselves, turning the outdoor space into a collective project. Together, the communal facilities and resident-built courtyard encouraged residents to shape their shared environment and fostered a strong sense of community. 

Olli Lehtovuori was responsible for the overall architectural concept. Implementation planning was done by Vesa Kauhanen.