Verstas wins the invited competition for a housing block in Viikinmäki, Helsinki. All entries are on display until the end of the year at the City Planning Department exhibition space Laituri.

Kirkkojärvi school has reached the rooftop height and the facade brickwork (pictured) is underway. More pictures here.

Verstas is featured in an upcoming book Newly Drawn – Emerging Finnish Architects along eight other offices. Newly Drawn introduces the most interesting young, upcoming Finnish architects, their latest projects, visions and ways of working. More information www.newlydrawn.fi. The book can be purchased directly from the publisher

Update (3rd November, 2009):
See the Newly Drawn exhibition featuring short films on each of the offices directed by Antti Seppänen as a part of the Helsinki-Madrid FinDesign expo in Madrid. The exhibition at the Matadero Contemporary Art Centre is open daily until January 10th 2010. www.mataderomadrid.com

Verstas’ entry ‘Kannas’ won the invited competition for the Information and Exhibition Centre Tali-Ihantala. The new building, to be built in between two barrack buildings dating from the latter half of the 18th century, will be the first new building in the historical surroundings of Lappeenranta fortress since 1970’s. The centre will be the information and media centre for the cavalry heritage of Lappeenranta as well as the defensive battles of the Continuation War between Finland and Russia in 1944. A separate competition for the name of the centre will be organized later this year.

Verstas’ entry Jyvä received an honorary mention in the invited competition for the extension of the Kivääritehdas Business Park in Jyväskylä for its merits in functionality and effect on cityscape. The entry links the former industrial buildings of the old part of Kivääritehdas to the city centre through a new street connection along which the functions are placed.

Verstas is taking part in the invited competition for Tianjin Eco-city with Eero Paloheimo, Eriksson Architects, the Chinese collaborators Sino-Finland Huineng Science & Technology Co Ltd and Tianjin Urban Planning Design Institute and a group of Finnish city-planning and environmental experts. The 26 square kilometer area next to the coastline near Tianjin, China will eventually house around 350.000 inhabitants.

Verstas’ entry ‘Elämänlanka’ was awarded a purchase in the 2nd stage of the competition for the new Espoo hospital.

Verstas Architects’ ‘Sálvu’ was chosen as a finalist and awarded the 2nd prize in the two-stage competition for the Sámi Cultural Centre by the Juutuanjoki River in Inari. In the picture above is the timber-walled parliament hall of the Finnish Sámi Parliament. Further information on projects page.

Verstas Architects’ ‘Mesikämmen’ was awarded a purchase in the competition for Suurpelto Children’s House in Espoo. The jury appreciated the “posititively heavy, yet light and playful” architecture of the building.

Verstas Architects’ alliance with Serum Architects resulted in silver medals just behind the H-L-P/K2S/N-R-T team in the PES 2008 football tournament for architectural offices. Verstas/Serum made their way to the final beating the likes of Lahdelma & Mahlamäki, ALA Architects and Helin & Co. Thanks to PES-Architects for the arrangements!

Verstas has been invited to take part in the competitions for Kivääripuisto business park in Jyväskylä and Tali-Ihantala information and exhibition centre in the Lappeenranta fortress.