Kuusijärvi saunas – exterior cladding and decks in charred wood

Story

At Kuusijärvi, fire is not a special effect. It is everyday life. People come to the shore to bathe in the sauna, swim, and return to the benches, season after season. The place has become what it is precisely because it is both urban nature close to the city and a very old Finnish ritual. The Kuusijärvi saunas are also exceptional in scale: these are public saunas serving a wide audience and are strongly part of the identity of Vantaa’s recreation area.

When new service buildings were built on the shore – two new smoke saunas plus changing, washing, and info facilities – the aim was not to create a new landmark but to complete the whole so that the new feels as if it had always been there. The formal language and materials of the buildings tie them to the landscape: log frame, charred cladding, and roofs that bring the texture and softness of nature over the architecture.

The ensemble and its designers, Mer Arkkitehdit and Arkkitehtuuri- ja muotoilutoimisto Talli, were awarded the Vantaa Kehäkukka architecture prize in recognition of quality and sustainable architecture – a sign that this is not just about saunas but a carefully built environment.

Hiil surfaces in this project

At Kuusijärvi, charred wood is part of the same story as the smoke sauna. The material has passed through fire and remained. For the exterior cladding, Hiili was used as a custom surface because the architecture called for the depth and tone of charred wood with a slightly more controlled texture than a single charring pass often gives. On this project the surface was made by charring, pressure washing, and charring again. The result is a recognisable, living burn pattern with more controlled grain.

On the decks, Noki was used – it works outdoors like a soft shadow. It supports the dark character of the buildings while bringing the practicality and rhythm of a brushed surface to walkways and seating areas.

From Hiil’s perspective, Kuusijärvi is also an example of how charred wood can be used responsibly and for the long term in a public setting: wood is allowed to be wood, and fire improves it toward longer use.