Kalasatama Community House by AOR Architects

Designed as a shared living room for local residents, the Kalasatama community house brings restaurant, event, work, and sauna facilities together under one roof. The building’s name and conceptual identity are rooted in the word Talas – a traditional coastal shelter – serving as a sanctuary for residents and a place of tranquility amidst the hectic pace of urban life.

The community house is a timber-framed structure, with materials kept intentionally simple, natural, and authentic – even ascetic. The load-bearing frame is based on a glulam column and CLT slab system, designed with sustainability in mind; bolted connections were prioritized to ensure that building components can be easily replaced or repurposed in the future. This clean and natural material palette is protected from the maritime climate by durable steel cladding and deep eaves, which simultaneously define a welcoming terrace zone.