Karveli Housing Block
- Residential block in Oulu
- 2016 to 2019
- Scope floor area 13 150 m2 / gross area 14 850 m2
- Location Toppilansalmi, Oulu
- Client Lehto Asunnot Oy
- Housing companies As Oy Oulun Ulappa, As Oy Oulun Poukama, As Oy Oulun Valkama, As Oy Oulun Luoto
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/project-karveli-7-853x1024.jpg)
Starting point
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/project-karveli_viistokuva-894x1024.jpg)
The task was to design an entirely new residential block that would be part of the novel Toppilansalmi area, which is still very much under development.
There were a few important challenges to solve: how to arrange parking, and how to organize the housing, as it was forbidden to open apartments towards a neighboring factory building. These challenges were turned into distinctive design features that add character and warmth to the block’s architecture.
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/project-karveli-2_2-1024x441.jpg)
Location
Thanks to the new residential area of Toppilansalmi, the old Toppila harbour district is seeing a new burst of life. The Karveli block is centrally located in this new area.
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/project-karveli-asema_-1024x896.jpg)
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/project-karveli-1-1024x683.jpg)
Solution
Several 4 to 5-storey buildings form a protective chain around the courtyard, and a darker-toned 8-storey tower serves as the block’s focal point. On the street side, the lower-rise buildings create a serene appearance with their elegant white colour, while the courtyard side packs a bit more punch with its playful reddish brown hue. The architecture is characterised by the chessboard-like layout of the brick frames of the courtyard’s French balconies. The chessboard theme is repeated on the northern facade around the large windows of the stairwell.
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/project-karveli-6-658x1024.jpg)
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/project-karveli-9-scaled.jpg)
The houses wrap around a cosy courtyard constructed over the parking garage.
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/project-karveli-4-1024x683.jpg)
This courtyard deck is a treasure shared by Karveli residents, offering an area secluded from surrounding traffic. The deck includes a playground, fitness and seating areas, a communal sauna, and a variety of plants and vines that add a welcoming touch of green.
![](https://luoarkkitehdit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/project-karveli_korttelijs_itaan-1024x348.jpg)
*photos Ville-Pekka Ikola