On the shores of Lake Näsijärvi in Tampere, the tall spires of a huge industrial architecture power plant rise up. It is the Naistenlahti power plant of the Tampere Electric Power Plant. It consists of three units, the newest of which is the recently completed Naistenlahti 3.
The facade of Naistenlahti 3 is a unique, unparalleled sight, where the architects' vision of a 3D facade made of aluminium composite really came to life. BST-Arkkitehdit Oy was responsible for the architectural design of the facade. Alupro created the 3D wall on the lake frontage, the 2D wall on the adjacent south frontage and the effect wall on the retaining wall on the shore. The project was commissioned by Tampereen Sähkölaitos Oy. VALOA design Oy was responsible for the lighting design.
Overall, the Naistenlahti power plant facade project was a feat of smooth cooperation. "Cooperation with Alupro was easy, effortless and solution-oriented. It is exceptional that a facade project can be completed so painlessly and without any problems," says Sergej von Bagh, managing director, partner and architect of BST-Arkkitehdit Oy.
The facade is one of the most visible in Tampere and has a major impact on the urban landscape. Already at the design stage, the architects' vision was that one part of the facade should be highlighted in a unique way, leaving the other parts of the power plant in the shade.
The spectacular illumination of Women's Bay 3 was a worthy highlight. Light and shadow were important elements in the design of the building's facade. "We wanted the facade to live up to the time of day," says von Bagh. In the evening, the lighting emphasises the impressive architecture, while during the day, the three-dimensionality of the building's facade makes it impressive even without lighting, as shapes and angles create shadows on the wall. Even if the lights are not kept on, for example to save energy, the 3D wall in aluminium composite has a lively, even futuristic look.
The lighting design had to take into account the surrounding environment. In order to prevent the plant's evening lighting from shining directly into the nearby spa, for example, BST-Arkkitehdit Oy designed the facade to be more enclosed in that direction. Towards the city, the lighting is allowed to be open.
The west facade wall contains around 200 LED lights, whose colours and patterns can be adjusted and controlled by computer. The facade can therefore shine in the most spectacular colours and patterns - the building looks particularly beautiful in the evening and at night in Tampere. On festive and public holidays, the facade is sure to be unprecedented!
"Alupro is a professional facade supplier whose approach inspires confidence," says von Bagh.
Alupro was praised for its smooth communication and ease of working with Alupro. From BST-Arkkitehdit Oy, von Bagh and Ingo Pfeifer agree: "The cooperation was even discreet and there was no need to intervene. Working with Alupro was easy and effortless."
Excellent communication and smooth cooperation were facilitated by Alupro's advanced approach to working with digital tools. Alupro is accustomed to using BIM, which allows all information related to facade design and implementation to be shared in IFC format between all parties. This streamlined the transfer of information and the work.
BST-Arkkitehdit Oy was exceptionally pleased with Alupro's further development work: "Alupro's contribution of innovation to the design of the fixing methods, for example, was significant for the final result. Alupro was able to further develop the design; for example, they designed a new frame system for the facade so that the light goes evenly behind the elements."
Aluminium composite was a natural choice for the facade of the Naistenlahti 3 power plant: the plant handles combustible material, so the facade must also be non-combustible. For BST-Arkkitehdit Oy, aluminium composite is a familiar material from several projects. "Aluminium composite has the advantage of being light and straight - it doesn't undulate with heat like ordinary sheet metal, for example, but has a good quality surface that stays straight and creates a high quality look," says von Bagh. Using aluminium composite also gave the facade just the right shade of colour to match the design.
Aluminium composite differs from solid aluminium in that its core is infill material and only the surface is aluminium. This makes aluminium composite a cheaper and lighter alternative to solid aluminium. The cost-effectiveness is also increased by the speed and ease of installation: when the sheets or cassettes are prefabricated, no extra time is spent on site for installation.
In addition, aluminium composite is fully recyclable, meaning that its core material and surfaces can be returned to the material cycle and used to produce new material. It is also made of environmentally friendly lead-free material.
The facade of the Naistenlahti 3 power plant is a masterpiece of smooth collaboration: the architects' vision was realised on schedule and the project ran smoothly with excellent cooperation. If you would like to learn more about our solutions, our collaboration with you or get some insights for your future facade design, please contact us!
Alupro is a specialist in architectural facade design and an experienced manufacturer of facade surfaces. We help you create unique buildings that meet all of today's requirements and needs. We have the best BIM expertise in the building industry, from tools to procedures. The sooner you contact us, the better we can ensure your vision is realised with the right materials in a cost-effective manner!
Images used in this publication are taken by Skyfox.