KARINKROKFORSARCHITECTS
  • STUDIO
  • PROJECTS
  • DEVELOPMENT
  • RESEARCH
  • CONTACT

selected | residential | public | urban design | competitions | renovations | installations


Living House

As Oy Helsingin Onnimanni

As Oy Helsingin Oulunkylän Domino

Jyväskylän kangas

Kouvolan matkakeskus

Kouvolan Urheilupuisto

Jyväskylän kangas

Korkean rakentamisen visio

what's new

Kellokas

Sompasaari housing block

Living House

South harbour

Strängnäs

South harbour

Tapiola Leimuniitty

Päiväkoti taka-töölössä

Tapiola Leimuniitty

Time for space

Kellomäki Area Development

Kellomäki historical park

Seminaarinmäki Jyväskylä

Kellomäki Area Development

Lahnalahti Daycare Center

Ymmersta school

Unikko Daycare Center extension

Vartiokylä church renovation

Saarenvartijan tupa

Kangastorni

Suomenlinna

Myllykoski church extension

Autismin Kirjo

Satamalahti

Piippuranta

Kalastajanranta Housing Area

Music Centre Art Competition

Uppsala Concert and Congress

Viikki Ecological Daycare Center

Olympic stadium's cafeteria renovation

Europan, Le Havre

Gifu Housing

Corretto Housing

Villa Veltheim

Between Heaven and Earth

Labyrynth project

Ymmersta


© 2024 karin krokfors architects.

Ymmersta


1
2
3
4
5
6

  • Place: Espoo, FI
  • Year: 2003
  • Type: Elementary school

As. Oy. Helsingin Onnimanni


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2024
  • Type: Residential block
  • Comission: Arkta Reponen Oy

As. Oy. Helsingin Oulunkylän Domino


1
2
3
4
4

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2024
  • Type: Residential block
  • Comission: Arkta Reponen Oy

Päiväkoti Taka-töölössä


1

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2019
  • Type: Public

Saarenvartijan tupa


1

  • Place: Korkeasaari - Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2024
  • Type: Renovation

Jyväskylän Kangas


1
2
3
4
5
6
7

  • Place: Jyväskylä, FI
  • Year: 2017
  • Type: Open Urban design competition
  • Prize: 2nd prize
  • Info: Together with Sami Vikström Architects

Living House


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2024
  • Type: Development project
  • Info: In living House the housing distribution – dwelling sizes and dwelling contents - can live with the times, which also promotes the resource efficiency of buildings. Each room space can be transformed into any space e.g. room space, bathroom or kitchen.

Tapiola Leimuniitty


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

  • Place: Espoo, FI
  • Year: 2016
  • Type: Park renewal, realized project
  • Info: Together with Byman & Ruokonen Landscape Architects
  • Comission: City of Espoo

Kouvolan matkakeskus


1
2
3

  • Place: Kouvola, FI
  • Year: 2019
  • Type: Urban design
  • Info: Together with Sami Vikström Architects
  • Comission: City of Kouvola

Kouvolan urheilupuisto


1

  • Place: Kouvola, FI
  • Year: 2019
  • Type: Urban design
  • Info: Together with Sami Vikström Architects
  • Comission: City of Kouvola

Korkean rakentamisen visio


1
2
3

  • Place: Jyväskylä, FI
  • Year: 2019
  • Type: Urban design
  • Info: Together with Sami Vikström Architects
  • Comission: City of Jyväskylä

Seminaarinmäki Jyväskylä


1
2
3

  • Place: Jyväskylä, FI
  • Year: 2019
  • Type: Urban design
  • Info: Together with Sami Vikström Architects
  • Comission: City of Jyväskylä

Tapiola Leimuniitty


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Espoo, FI
  • Year: 2016
  • Type: Park renewal, realized project
  • Info: Together with Byman & Ruokonen Landscape Architects
  • Comission: City of Espoo

South Harbour


1
2
3
4
5
6

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2012
  • Type: International urban competition
  • Prize: Honorary mention

Strängnäs


1
2
3
3

  • Place: Strängnäs, SE
  • Year: 2019
  • Type: International urban competition

Myllykoski church extension


1
2
3

  • Place: Myllykoski, FI
  • Year: 2016
  • Type: Architectural competition, upper class entry

Kellokas


1
2
3
4
5
6
7

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2011
  • Type: Experimental housing + Co-housing
  •  
  • More information

co-housing


KELLOKAS HOUSING

Kellokas is an example of sustainable building approached from a holistic viewpoint. It is an experiment that tries to affect every aspect of the generally acknowledged spectrum of sustainability – the ecological, the sociocultural and the economical.

The project is a co-housing development which aims to challenge homogenous housing production. Specifically, the main objectives of the project have been ecology, housing solutions and the possibility to affect the quality of building and the choice of materials.

The buildings are also an example of dense townhouse infill building within a preexisting historical context, imposing boundaries and challenges on the ecological approach. For example, the openings are designed according to the demands of the urban context, rather than from a unilaterally ecological starting point. This guided the decision to utilize a system based on renewable energy rather than, for example, adopting the tenets of passive housing.


ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY

ENERGY – reduction of carbon monoxides

Heating and warm water is produced with renewable energy, almost free of charge. The buildings also form a laboratory for testing a hybrid power solution of solar collectors and geothermal heating. Any excess heat produced by of the solar collectors is transferred into and stored within 200 meter deep geothermal wells. The geothermal heating only kicks in after the amount of useable solar power falls off in winter. Cooling in summer is provided by geothermal heating. The buildings also include heat retaining fireplaces which can work as a part of the heating system. The heat that enters through the large western windows is absorbed and stored in the massive stone structures.

CONSTRUCTION – healthy

The walls are constructed of a massive, breathing stone structure built of ceramic honeycomb building blocks and a traditional solid fired brick (ruukintiili). The structure is healthy – walls that breathe do not gather mould. This provides a healthy indoor environment, composed solely of non-toxic materials.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS – durable and high quality materials

All of the objectives in Kellokas are linked to longevity. For this reason, all the materials have been selected according to durability and quality.

SOCIOCULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY

CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY – adapting to surroundings

The buildings have been fitted to the dense site by adapting to the scale and materials of their immediate environment. The building ratio of the site is as effective as that of a small block of flats, even though the character of the buildings more closely resembles that of townhouses.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY – the configuration of space as a criterion for sustainability

The objectives of social sustainability in construction have been the longevity of buildings, and adaptability to changes in the long run, both in the urban structure as well as inside the dwellings. Buildings stand the test of time if people find them meaningful and they continue to serve the needs of their inhabitants in an unforeseeable future. The spaces in the buildings are configured and made transformable in such a way that they have become multifunctional and self-organizing. Their functions can shift from living space to workspace or even an office if needed. The building has a strong relationship to street so such changes in function can invigorate the urban structure as well.

The buildings can adapt according to the wishes of their inhabitants flexibly and over many generations. Because of this, the inhabitant profile can vary a great deal.

TYPOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY – flexibility in serving the changing needs of the inhabitants


The house type makes both expanding and the contracting the dwelling possible. What enables this is the spatial organization, in which the internal stair can be changed into a stairwell and reserve openings built into the structures can be opened. The spaces can be combined and separated from each other, and so people can sell or rent out parts of their dwellings. It is possible for example to separate the lowest floor from the dwelling very easily without major changes to the building due to the existing separate entrance.


ECONOMICAL SUSTAINABILITY

RISK MANAGEMENT – for inhabitants and developers

The inhabitants are able to control the amount of risk they must carry due to their long term investment because of the possibility of renting out or selling a part of their apartment without having to relinquish their entire home.

This adaptability also enables developers to sell housing in a more flexible manner, better meeting the demand for varied types of apartments.


  • Topic: Co-housing

Kellomäki Historical Park


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7
7

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2012
  • Type: Kellomäki Historical Park and Guiding System
  •  

Kellomäki Area Development


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2012
  • Type: Kellomäki Historical Park
  •  

Autismin kirjo


1
2
3
4
5

  • Place: Seinäjöki, FI
  • Year: 2013
  • Type: Competition entry, Autism Spectrum
  •  

Music Centre Art Competition


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2009
  • Type: Competition entry
  •  

Satamalahti


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Mikkeli, FI
  • Year: 2012
  • Type: Open urban competition, upper class entry
  •  

Corretto Housing


1
2
3

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2005
  • Type: Invited competition
  • Prize: 1st prize
  •  

Piippuranta


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Jyväskylä, FI
  • Year: 2015
  • Type: Open urban competition, upper class entry
  •  

Kalastajanranta Housing Area


1
2

  • Place: Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2003
  • Type: Competition entry
  • Prize: Honorary mention
  •  

Vartiokylä Church renovation


1
2
3
  • Place: Vartiokylä, Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 1998
  • Type: Renovation work
  • Commission: The Parish Union of Helsinki
  •  

Europan 3, Le Havre


1
2
3

  • Place: Le Havre, France
  • Year: 1994
  • Type: International Architectural Competition
  • Prize: 1st price
  •  

Lahnalahti Daycare Center


1
2

  • Place: Lahnalahti, Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 1999
  • Type: Public building
  • Commission: Helsinki Social Service Department
  •  

Unikko Daycare Center extension


1
2
3
4
5
6
7

  • Place: Pukinmäki, Helsinki, FI
  • Year: 2003
  • Type: Public building extension
  • Commission: Helsinki Social Service Department
  • More information: Extension to an existing old wooden villa, serving as a day care centre.
  •  

Uppsala Concert and Congress Building


1

  • Place: Uppsala, Swedem
  • Year: 2002
  • Type: Public building competition
  • Prize: Honorary mention
  •  

Viikki Ecological Daycare Center and Park


1
2

  • Place: Helsinki
  • Year: 1999
  • Type: Invited architectural competition
  • Prize: Honorary mention
  •  

Olympic stadium's cafeteria renovation


1
2
3

  • Place: Helsinki
  • Year: 2015
  • Type: Renovation design
  • Comission: Helsinki Sports Department
  •  

Suomenlinna housing competition


1
2
3
4

  • Place: Suomenlinna, Helsinki
  • Year: 2016
  • Type: Competition entry
  •  

Aurinkokallio Housing Area


1
2
3
4
5

  • Place: Helsinki
  • Year: 1998, 2005 (Master Plan)
  • Type: Invited Architectural Competition and Master Plan
  • Prize: 1st prize
  •  

Kangastorni


1
2
3

  • Place: Jyväskylä
  • Year: 2018
  • Type: Invited Competition
  • Price: 1st price
  • Info: Together with Sami Vikström Architects
  •  

Gifu Housing


1
2
3
4
5
6

  • Place: Gifu, japan
  • Year: 1995
  • Type: International Architectural Competition
  • Prize: Honorary mention
  •  

Sompasaari Apartment Block Project


1
2
3
4
5

  • Place: Sompasaari, Helsinki
  • Year: 2015
  • Type: Apartment Block Project
  • Info: Together with Brunow & Maunula Architects
  • Comission: SATO
  •  

Villa Veltheim


1
2

  • Place: Suomenlinna UNESCO Herritage site, Helsinki
  • Year: 1995
  • Type: Extension
  •  

Between Heaven and Earth


1
2
3

  • Place: Tallinn, Estonia
  • Year: 2002
  • Type: Installation for the exhibition, Tallinn Art Biennale 2002
  • Info: together with Talli partners
  •  

Labyrynth Project


1
2
3

  • Place: Helsinki
  • Year: 2000
  • Type: Installation in Kunsthall
  • Info: Together with Anne Lehtinen and Julia Virkkunen
  •  

Ymmersta


1
2
3
3
3

  • Place: Espoo, FI
  • Year: 2003
  • Type: Installation
  • Info: Together with artist Kristian Krokfors
  •  

WHAT'S NEW


April 2024

As. Oy Helsingin Oulunkylän Domino & As. Oy Helsingin Onnimanni are under construction.To be completed in summer 2024.



LIVING HOUSE


Development project

Under construction...

  • Living House
  • Development project

TIME FOR SPACE


Thesis by Karin Krokfors


Public defence of dissertation took place on 2nd of June 2017 at Aalto University in Otaniemi, Espoo.


  • Time for Space
  • Typological flexible and Resilient Buildings and the emergence of the Creative Dweller.