Ymmersta School

Colourful place for learning

© Oliver Whitehead

Project description:

After the school building was completed, the architects wrote the following: 

“Ymmersta is a new rapidly expanding residential area near the Espoo Centre. Most of the woodland site of the new lower-level comprehensive school slopes to the north. A compact three-story building, with classroom clusters on the top floor, provided a solution to site conditions. 

Our goal was to create a warm and individualistic house for young children. This was a decisive factor in the choice of materials, timber and red brick being the predominant ones. 

The ground floor halls and canteen receive natural light through large lanterns. Each lantern links to one of the classroom clusters. Artist Kristian Krokfors created the colour schemes of the lightwell back walls; children recognise their own areas and their location by the colour. The first-floor library facilities bridge around the halls and connect visually to other common areas, together forming the heart of the school.” 

Project info:

Year:2003
Client:City of Espoo
Location:Ristihaantie, Espoo
Size:4 800 m2
Architects:Jukka Sulonen, Karin Krokfors
Other team members:Edda Davídsdottír, Jouni Vainonen, Mari Mannevaara, Sami Vikström
Furniture and interior designers:Martti Lukander, Pasi Hämäläinen
Photos:Oliver Whitehead, Jussi Tiainen

More information:

Arkkitehti – Finnish Architectual Review. 1/2004. Neljän värin voimaa / Powerful concept in four colours. Karin Krokfors ja Jukka Sulonen.

© Jussi Tiainen
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead
© Oliver Whitehead