Permission granted for the Aalto Silo Restoration Project in Finland
The Oulu City Council has approved the AALTOSIILO restoration proposal submitted by Skene Catling de la Peña.
The concrete structure will be restored and re-imagined as a multimedia performance,
exhibition space and “Tar Bar”.
The 525 square meter silo used to store wood chips and will now become a digital touch point to connect the building with its surroundings.
Now approaching its centenary, the proposal aims to at least double its lifespan.
Seeking to create an environmental focus in Silo,
Skene Catling de la Peña imagined a building in close relationship with its surroundings.
The only structure designed by Aalto is open to the public in northern Finland.
The AaltoSiilo project demonstrates the importance and feasibility of reusing existing concrete structures of industrial heritage.
Provides a deconstruction approach and structural guidelines for the use of local leftover concrete known as ‘spolia’.
In the spirit of entrepreneurship, the Oulu Building Planning Department identified the source that contributes to this type of concrete waste.
The use of concrete “spolia” in the construction creates
a unique aesthetic similar to Muuratsalo in Aalto, also known as the “experimental house”.
This approach combines innovative recycling methods with design.
Design features
Skene Catling de la Peña and Factum, in collaboration with the Universities of Oulu,
Helsinki and Oslo, are exploring the potential of carbon sequestration concrete.
The AaltoSiilo restoration develops a language that presents the stages of the building,
from conception to deterioration, to the repair process.
Furthermore, the renovation of the silo’s interior involves reusing all of the original pallets, wood structures, doors, and windows.
AaltoSiilo will create a dynamic and engaging environment that attracts people and enhances social interactions.
The inclusion of a communal sauna, café,
rooftop “tar bar” and outdoor amphitheater ensures spaces for social gatherings while maintaining economic viability.
The building itself, along with its exhibitions and events,
will be a source of pride, identity and employment.
This effectively preserves cultural memory and establishes a new, positive identity in the city.
Moreover, the local community will be encouraged to share knowledge,
and technology will facilitate the development of a new generation of digital artisans.
The research lab will provide advanced digital skills derived from a successful model factum in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt.
The Hassan Fathi mud-brick building has been restored and repurposed as a 3D scanning,
archiving, and training center.
