Floating smoke sauna Holy Wrath by EKA Interior Architecture students. Photo by Päär-Joonap Keedus
The Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association organises wooden building competition every year with the aim of highlighting new wooden buildings in which wood has been used in the best possible way in terms of architecture, technology and construction. This year, there are 31 nominees, among them the floating smoke sauna by the students of Interior Architecture as well as the shelter Milky Way in Tartu, completed as part of the construction practice of the students of the architecture and urban planning from EKA. Everyone can cast their vote on Delfi’s Modern Home page until midnight on November 2 – the nominee with the most votes gets the title of people’s favourite.
According to Erik Konze, the organiser of the competition, wood is an excellent building material that is light and durable. “At a time when environmental problems are one of the biggest talking points globally, it is important to find ways to reduce the dangerous effects of human factors on nature. Wood has many advantages as an environmentally friendly and locally sourced material, which is why it is definitely important to contribute to the development of wooden architecture,” he notes.
The competition has four award categories. The authors of the main award Aasta Puitehitis will be rewarded with two travel passes to a wooden architecture study tour or conference in the amount of €4,000. There will also be a special award for the best wooden interior, “ESTPLY wooden interior award” – €1,500, a special award for the best use of glulam, “Arcwood Glulam Award of the Year” – €1,500 and a special award for the best use of planing material, “Raitwood Facade Award of the Year” – €1,500. Moodne Kodu also gives a prize to the people’s favourite.
The floating sauna Püha Viha / Holy Wrath located by the Tsooru lake is a project of the first-year students of the Department of Interior Architecture of the Estonian Academy of Arts and completed as part of the summer construction practice. Both the project and its implementation were supervised by Ardo Hiiuväin, Eeros Lees and Päär-Joonap Keedus. EKA wood craftsman Avo Tragel offered workshop and wood technology support. Its authors are students Marcus Kask, Caitlyn Kesa, Anni Kärmik, Emily Marin, Kairi Mändla, Simona Aleksadra Porta, Villem Reimann, Christine Rõõm, Nelelis Tasa, Susann Vahe, Arnold Zagurski and Linda Marie Zimmer.