'Finnskogens Hus' is a museum in the forest, relating to its context as a transition between inside and outside. Surrounded by a forest of columns it evokes curiosity and attracts visitors to interact with the building and the surrounding landscape. The museum creates a framework where to present and educate about the rich history of the Forest Finns. The museum is characterized by the large roof and the forest of columns; creating a symbiosis between nature and building. The playful column facade creates a unique expression, especially during dark hours when light from inside trickles through the column forest and lights up the surrounding landscape.
When approaching the building the entrance appears as a glade through the forest and lead you into the reception area, cafe and library. Once inside the museum the columns are still present and light is filtered through the ceiling, a reference to the Forest Finns building technique where smoke was ventilated out through a smoke hatch. Finnskogens Hus is a simple building that in many ways relates to the Forest Finn Culture* with its direct relation to the forest. Wood is present in both structural elements and interior spaces, where for example burnt wood tells a story about the slash-and-burn cultivation in the Forest Finn Culture.
It has a clear and simple plan layout to ensure fexibility between different functions of the museum and to have the possibility to extend the building through a second phase. *Forest Finn Culture The Forest Finns migrated from eastern Finland towards the forested regions in central Sweden and eastern Norway in the late 16th/early 17th century. They practiced slash-burn agriculture, which involves sowing grain in the ashes of the burnt forest. In addition to their special slash-burn technique they also brought with them their building tradition with smoke cabins.
Credits: - Aesthetica Studio - 3D Artist - Andrea Baresi