Creating a lakeshore lookout with an innovative wooden structure

Belvedere merges traditional and innovative building techniques, resulting in a bold free-form shell treated with tar, encasing a simple wooden structure. The construction utilizes a system of standardized wooden elements that are easy to assemble on-site. Combining the potential of parametric design and modular construction, the building represents a new approach to wooden architecture. The algorithm-based structure is highly flexible and can be modified to meet specific needs.

The architecturally ambitious building seeks to push the boundaries of wooden construction on a global level. The combination of prefabricated modules and an algorithmically developed shell mesh creates a sculptural piece that proposes a new sustainable and versatile wooden construction system. By creating a new kind of architecture that supports the character of the place, Belvedere aims to showcase Finnish and regional expertise in wood construction, architecture and design.

The building’s shape draws inspiration from boats, sails and the surrounding natural elements, creating an organic form that is in harmony with its context and offers a lookout which opens to the lake environment.

The hotel features 60 rooms, including six larger suites, distributed across six identical floors. Most rooms offer views of the lake landscape. The exterior shell-like mesh provides a protective layer while maintaining visibility of the scenery. The rooftop will host a year-round sky bar with glass walls that can open, transforming the space into a summer lookout terrace. On the ground floor, meeting rooms will open to the surrounding landscape, with sliding glass doors allowing interior spaces to seamlessly extend to the shore during summer events.