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Site visit to Kuhmo

Published: 4.11.2023

Kuhmo is located in central-eastern Finland, an 8-hour journey away from Helsinki. During our site visit in November we spent two mornings on the site, after which we were given a guided tour by city representatives, visiting the town's architectural and cultural highlights and some Woodpolis companies.

Site survey

We did a detailed site survey of Kuhmo's market square. We photographed and took measurements of the surrounding buildings, trees and roads, on the ground and via drone. We also analysed traffic and acoustics, and interviewed local residents.

A Japanese member is standing with long ruler

Student Johanna interviewing local residents

Students talking on site with local reporter

Sightseeing

Kuhmo has a range of interesting architectural sights. These include Kuhmotalo, a state-of-the-art concert venue; the new Tuupala timber school; and the Juminkeko centre, a cultural centre focusing on Karelian and Kalevala heritage with some really beautiful timber detailing.

Kuhmotalo concert hall

Kuhmotalo concert hall

Kuhmotalo concert hall

Tuupala wooden school

Juminkeko Centre

Timber companies

Since Kuhmo is known for its wood industry, we were able to visit some companies to get a better understanding of industrial wood production. Kuhmo Oy, a large sawmill operator, introduced us to its long history and showed us around their facilities, including a recently opened, fully digitally operated sawline. Crosslam is a pioneering manufacturer of cross-laminated timber (CLT). Lastly, Luottopuu is a smaller company that provides timber for more special use cases.

Wood Program students are shown around the Kuhmo Oy sawmill control room

Students walking across a metal bridge over sawmill equipment

Teachers smiling in Kuhmo Oy control room

Large bus with LED letters showing words 'Aalto University'

Students standing around a pile of CLT in the Crosslam factory hall

The Crosslam manufacturing hall, a large space with pieces of CLT everywhere and a big crane

A pile of thick logs in the storage warehouse of Luottopuu

Reflection of the bus driver in the mirror

Scan of article in Kuhmolainen describing our site surveying efforts.

Newspaper feature

Our surveying efforts did not go unnoticed! Apart from the curiosity of people on their way for groceries, some of us were interviewed by local newspaper Kuhmolainen. The next day we featured in an article by Antero Kumolainen. Read it here (in Finnish)

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