Manu Humppi
Rautulampi Wilderness Huts
Wildlife
Facilities
Urho Kekkonen National Park in Eastern Lapland is the second most visited national park. The new Rautulampi huts represent contemporary design deriving from the traditional wilderness huts and the harsh weather conditions in the fells.
Cities and towns
National parks
UNESCO sites
UNESCO global geoparks
Main roads
Airports
Cruise ports
Case
Infrastructure
Walking path
Grass
Trees / Forest
River / Ocean
How to build in remote locations in the wilderness?
New huts were needed when the old Rautulampi hut in the Urho Kekkonen National Park had burned down. The solution was to design a group of buildings to be made up of prefabricated wooden elements that were transportable on snowmobiles..
New interpretation of a traditional wilderness hut
The group of new huts in Rautulampi consist of an open wilderness hut and a rental hut under one roof, both accommodating 8 hikers, a day hut and an auxiliary building for firewood and dry closets. The design of the huts has had a varied reception: some love the modern look while others find the evolution from traditional huts alienating. While the layout of the huts is rather conventional with just a few additions for better functionality, the materials and the architecture are very modern. Prefabricated CLT modules offered transportability and ease of installation in a remote off-road location. The roofs wrap around to form sides of the huts facing strong winds and snowfall. The functionality of the huts is enhanced with a drying room for equipment and an entryway that protects the indoors from the wind.
Key facts
- Location
Urho Kekkonen National Park, near Ivalo, Municipality of Sodankylä, Region of Lapland in Northern Finland
- GPS points
68°18'49.7"N 27°38'48.1"E
- Protection Framework
National park
- Project Owner
Metsähallitus
- Designer
Manu Humppi, architect
- Year of construction
2021
- Materials
prefabricated CLT modules
- Landscape Type
Wilderness, fells, lakeside