Meet Studio Collaboratorio, an entry in the Architects’ Directory 2024

Studio Collaboratorio, a young Finnish practice, is part of the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024, our latest annual roundup of exciting up-and-coming architecture studios.

Who: Studio Collaboratorio

This young Helsinki-based practice was founded in 2016 by Finnish architect Kristiina Kuusiluoma and Italian architect Martino De Rossi. Together, the duo founded Studio Collaboratorio, a dynamic, emerging practice with the goal of “creating beautiful living spaces through the use of natural and ecological materials, while paying great attention to the place and its history: more beauty, communality, affordability and humanity! Interactive collaboration, deep ecology and longevity are at the heart of everything.”

This studio loves challenges and can’t wait to tackle anything it’s not yet familiar with – like at Villa Koppar shown here, where the architects tried out rammed earth construction elements adapted to the Finnish climate and technology.

What influences them? “Definitely traditional architecture and solutions that have been tried and tested for hundreds, thousands of years. And nature. Simple, beautiful, practical and ethical solutions all in one,” they say.

What: Villa Koppar

Villa Koppar is one of the young architectural firm’s latest residential projects. The single-family house in Inkoo, Finland, blends into the breathtaking nature of the Kopparnä region, about 45 km outside of Helsinki. The elegantly built property in two volumes (main house, garage and guest house) may seem simple, but it is the result of extensive research and sustainable architecture.

Villa Koppar is an eco-friendly, geothermally heated passive house built on a limited budget using a prefabricated straw structure (Ecococon), an external cladding of Organowood spruce panels and clay plaster inside.

The architects explain: “The living area with landscape sauna is located on the upper floor and offers picturesque views of the rocky terrain via an extended terrace. The bedrooms have direct access to the garden on the ground floor. The interior design and lighting are characterized by a minimalist approach, using predominantly wood and clay. Both floors are built of rammed earth (Luonnonbetoni).”

Why: Architect Directory 2024

Conceived in 2000 as an international index of emerging architectural talent, the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory is our annual listing of promising practices from around the world. The project has always promoted the best and most promising young studios and over the years has showcased inspiring work with a focus on the residential sector. Now comprising more than 500 alumni, the Architects’ Directory is back with its 24th edition. Join us as we launch this year’s survey – 20 young studios from Australia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, the UK and the USA, with plenty of promise, ideas and exciting architecture.

kollaboratorio.fi