Housing Design

Residential Environment, 2025

Residential Environment is a core third-year housing design course where students design residential buildings that integrate seamlessly with their surrounding outdoor spaces. The emphasis is on creating functional and pleasant apartments that cater to diverse housing preferences while reflecting contemporary urban lifestyles.

In spring 2025, the project was set in Myllypuro—a rapidly developing district in eastern Helsinki undergoing significant infill development. The guiding theme, natural light, was approached as more than a design element—it was treated as a vital contributor to residents’ quality of life and well-being. Against the backdrop of current housing trends—particularly the rise of deep, single-aspect apartments—this focus brought urgency and real-world relevance to the design process.

Modern kitchen and dining area with wooden floor, black countertops, green chairs, and large windows. — Picture: Veikko Jeskanen

Selected student works

Modern apartment complex with red and white walls and green accents, surrounded by trees and paved areas.

A presentation page of a zigzag-shaped building design with white 3D model images and technical specifications.

Architectural site plan showing buildings, trees, greenery and pathways with a sectional view at the bottom.

A modern apartment complex surrounded by trees, with people walking and cycling, and a blooming pink tree in the centre.

Architectural floor plan showing a detailed layout of a building, outdoor grill area, playground, and surrounding landscape.

Detailed floor plans of second, third and forth floors, showing various rooms, stairs, and corridors.

Modern living room with large windows, beige sofa, wooden table, and white walls. Floor plan drawn below.

Architectural cross-sections of a building with four floors. Background shows trees and other buildings.

Architectural elevations of a modern building with trees and greenery. A cyclist and people walking are visible.

Two architectural elevations of a four-storey building with trees in the background, showing door and window placements.

Two people, one in a blue coat and red trousers, walking in a park with buildings in the background.

Thumbnail of Modern apartment complex with red and white walls and green accents, surrounded by trees and paved areas.

Thumbnail of A presentation page of a zigzag-shaped building design with white 3D model images and technical specifications.

Thumbnail of Architectural site plan showing buildings, trees, greenery and pathways with a sectional view at the bottom.

Thumbnail of A modern apartment complex surrounded by trees, with people walking and cycling, and a blooming pink tree in the centre.

Thumbnail of Architectural floor plan showing a detailed layout of a building, outdoor grill area, playground, and surrounding landscape.

Thumbnail of Detailed floor plans of second, third and forth floors, showing various rooms, stairs, and corridors.

Thumbnail of Modern living room with large windows, beige sofa, wooden table, and white walls. Floor plan drawn below.

Thumbnail of Architectural cross-sections of a building with four floors. Background shows trees and other buildings.

Thumbnail of Architectural elevations of a modern building with trees and greenery. A cyclist and people walking are visible.

Thumbnail of Two architectural elevations of a four-storey building with trees in the background, showing door and window placements.

Thumbnail of Two people, one in a blue coat and red trousers, walking in a park with buildings in the background.

Elisa Kohtanen

Hand-drawn diagram with two boxes labelled 'Private' and 'Public'. Arrows point from 'Public' to 'Private'.

Aerial view of a neighbourhood plan on the left and a building section on the right, with some text beneath. Pictures are in black and white.

Architectural floor plan drawing showing building layout and surrounding outdoor areas with trees and paths in black and white.

Two architectural cross-section drawings of a building with trees in the background. Pictures are in black and white.

Architectural drawing of a multi-storey building with a grey textured facade. Zoomed-in detail shows windows and balconies.

Two architectural elevation drawings showing the front and side views of a modern building against a backdrop of trees.

Architectural elevations showing different perspectives of a modern building with balconies and large windows.

Two architectural models showing a layout of buildings and terrain on a dark surface.

Modern kitchen with large windows, dark cabinets, a wooden dining table with green chairs, and a view of trees outside.

Modern multi-storey apartment building with large balconies, surrounded by greenery and rocks.

Modern grey apartment building with balconies, large windows, and a lush garden with blooming flowers in the foreground.

Thumbnail of Hand-drawn diagram with two boxes labelled 'Private' and 'Public'. Arrows point from 'Public' to 'Private'.

Thumbnail of Aerial view of a neighbourhood plan on the left and a building section on the right, with some text beneath. Pictures are in black and white.

Thumbnail of Architectural floor plan drawing showing building layout and surrounding outdoor areas with trees and paths in black and white.

Thumbnail of Two architectural cross-section drawings of a building with trees in the background. Pictures are in black and white.

Thumbnail of Architectural drawing of a multi-storey building with a grey textured facade. Zoomed-in detail shows windows and balconies.

Thumbnail of Two architectural elevation drawings showing the front and side views of a modern building against a backdrop of trees.

Thumbnail of Architectural elevations showing different perspectives of a modern building with balconies and large windows.

Thumbnail of Two architectural models showing a layout of buildings and terrain on a dark surface.

Thumbnail of Modern kitchen with large windows, dark cabinets, a wooden dining table with green chairs, and a view of trees outside.

Thumbnail of Modern multi-storey apartment building with large balconies, surrounded by greenery and rocks.

Thumbnail of Modern grey apartment building with balconies, large windows, and a lush garden with blooming flowers in the foreground.

Veikko Jeskanen

Modern five-storey white building surrounded by green trees and a cloudy sky.

Architectural plans, textual information in Finnish, building schematics and 3D model images, aerial site view with labelled sections. Pictures are in black and white.

Grey architectural floor plan showing two buildings, pathways, and greenery. Indoor areas include rooms labelled LWFP, LVW, and more.

Four architectural plans with sketches on the left and detailed floor plans on the right for 2-3 floors and 4-5 floors.

A modern kitchen with grey cabinets and a long island counter. A big window at the end brightens the room.

Architectural section drawings of a multi-storey building showing interior layouts and structural details. Pictures are in black and white.

Architectural blueprint shows front elevations of two modern multi-storey buildings with several windows and balconies. Includes materials in the text sections.

Two architectural plans show different elevations of a four-storey residential building with balconies and windows. Materials are listed in the text.

A modern apartment building with a central open-air corridor. There is a tree at the entrance. Picture is in black and white.

Thumbnail of Modern five-storey white building surrounded by green trees and a cloudy sky.

Thumbnail of Architectural plans, textual information in Finnish, building schematics and 3D model images, aerial site view with labelled sections. Pictures are in black and white.

Thumbnail of Grey architectural floor plan showing two buildings, pathways, and greenery. Indoor areas include rooms labelled LWFP, LVW, and more.

Thumbnail of Four architectural plans with sketches on the left and detailed floor plans on the right for 2-3 floors and 4-5 floors.

Thumbnail of A modern kitchen with grey cabinets and a long island counter. A big window at the end brightens the room.

Thumbnail of Architectural section drawings of a multi-storey building showing interior layouts and structural details. Pictures are in black and white.

Thumbnail of Architectural blueprint shows front elevations of two modern multi-storey buildings with several windows and balconies. Includes materials in the text sections.

Thumbnail of Two architectural plans show different elevations of a four-storey residential building with balconies and windows. Materials are listed in the text.

Thumbnail of A modern apartment building with a central open-air corridor. There is a tree at the entrance. Picture is in black and white.

Onniliinus Juvonen

Modern four-storey building with green roof and balconies. Trees and a path leading to the entrance are in the foreground.

Architectural drawings of a residential area, including a site plan, building section, and 3D models.

Architectural floor plan of a building surrounded by trees and outdoor furniture. The layout includes rooms and a garden.

Blueprint shows floor plans of a four-storey building with detailed room layouts. Floor plans are of second, third and fourth floors.

Interior of a sunlit bedroom with a double bed, wooden furniture, large windows, and an architectural floor plan above with shadow study.

Architectural section drawings of a four-storey building with trees in the background, showing interior rooms and stairs.

Brightly lit room with large windows, wooden furniture, and a small plant. A dining table with chairs is visible near the kitchen.

Architectural elevations of a building showing the east and north facades, surrounded by trees and other structures.

Architectural elevation drawings showing the front and side views of two buildings amidst trees.

Modern white building with large windows, green roof, and tree in foreground at sunset.

Thumbnail of Modern four-storey building with green roof and balconies. Trees and a path leading to the entrance are in the foreground.

Thumbnail of Architectural drawings of a residential area, including a site plan, building section, and 3D models.

Thumbnail of Architectural floor plan of a building surrounded by trees and outdoor furniture. The layout includes rooms and a garden.

Thumbnail of Blueprint shows floor plans of a four-storey building with detailed room layouts. Floor plans are of second, third and fourth floors.

Thumbnail of Interior of a sunlit bedroom with a double bed, wooden furniture, large windows, and an architectural floor plan above with shadow study.

Thumbnail of Architectural section drawings of a four-storey building with trees in the background, showing interior rooms and stairs.

Thumbnail of Brightly lit room with large windows, wooden furniture, and a small plant. A dining table with chairs is visible near the kitchen.

Thumbnail of Architectural elevations of a building showing the east and north facades, surrounded by trees and other structures.

Thumbnail of Architectural elevation drawings showing the front and side views of two buildings amidst trees.

Thumbnail of Modern white building with large windows, green roof, and tree in foreground at sunset.

Peppi Kouti

Modern white apartment building with large windows and balconies, surrounded by other buildings. A person cycling at the front.

Architectural site plan with building layouts and descriptions. Includes section view, white 3D model images and text.

Architectural floor plan with numbered areas including laundry room, bike storage, sauna, and garden. Surrounding environment is presented in shades of green.

Architectural blueprint showing floor plans for floors 2 to 4 and floor 5 of a building. Includes measurements and room labels.

Modern open-plan living room with wooden furniture, white curtain, and large windows showing greenery outside.

Technical drawing of a five-storey building, showing cross-section and north elevation. Trees visible.

Architectural drawings of a five-storey building with sections and elevations, surrounded by trees.

Architectural elevations of a five-storey building with trees on either side. The facade features balconies and numerous windows.

A modern courtyard with a pathway, young trees, a small building, and a white multi-story building visible.

Thumbnail of Modern white apartment building with large windows and balconies, surrounded by other buildings. A person cycling at the front.

Thumbnail of Architectural site plan with building layouts and descriptions. Includes section view, white 3D model images and text.

Thumbnail of Architectural floor plan with numbered areas including laundry room, bike storage, sauna, and garden. Surrounding environment is presented in shades of green.

Thumbnail of Architectural blueprint showing floor plans for floors 2 to 4 and floor 5 of a building. Includes measurements and room labels.

Thumbnail of Modern open-plan living room with wooden furniture, white curtain, and large windows showing greenery outside.

Thumbnail of Technical drawing of a five-storey building, showing cross-section and north elevation. Trees visible.

Thumbnail of Architectural drawings of a five-storey building with sections and elevations, surrounded by trees.

Thumbnail of Architectural elevations of a five-storey building with trees on either side. The facade features balconies and numerous windows.

Thumbnail of A modern courtyard with a pathway, young trees, a small building, and a white multi-story building visible.

Saana Simula

Back to Student works

In between Scales and Typologies, 2024

BASIC COURSE. The assignment for the basic course in housing design was to design an apartment building in East Helsinki. The site was located between a 1960s suburb and a detached housing area.

Modern white apartment building with large balconies, surrounded by trees. An elderly person walks with a bicycle.

Urban Infill, 2023

BASIC COURSE. The task was to explore how the connection to the surrounding nature was reflected in the layouts of residential spaces, communal areas, and the outdoor areas, with Herttoniemi's infill development as the design focus.

Modern white apartment building surrounded by autumn trees. A person rides a bike near a smaller white structure.

Housing Design

The Professorship in Housing Design conducts internationally recognized and impactful architectural design and research, applying this knowledge in its teaching. The research and design efforts concentrate on two main areas: housing design quality and circular construction, with a vision for the future of housing, particularly in the Nordic region. Since 2022, the team has been led by Assistant Professor Antti Lehto

Modern row house with wooden cladding, large terraces, and potted plants outside, under a partly cloudy sky.

Student works

Selected works from bachelor's and master's courses.

Updated: 15.11.2025
Published: 15.11.2025

Residential Environment, 2025

Selected student works

Elisa Kohtanen

Veikko Jeskanen

Onniliinus Juvonen

Peppi Kouti

Saana Simula

See also

In between Scales and Typologies, 2024

Urban Infill, 2023

Housing Design

Student works