Located deep in a forest in Finland, Finnish architect Malin Moisio designed a shelter made of wood and recycled materials.

The shelter, called Kirkkokiven Iaavu, or Church Stone Shelter, is located in the forest of the Kintulammi hiking and nature reserve area in Tampere, Finland. Specifically, it is located near a large boulder, which, according to tradition, served as a primitive church for local horse shepherds in the 18th century and now gives the shelter its name.

The Church Stone Shelter is not meant for sleeping, unlike other shelters in the area. It has a rectangular floor plan and steep pitched roof like a stereotypical house. The open ends give a view of the forest.

The shelter is made of vertically placed 13×13 cm (5×5 inch) timber frame. The massive wooden walls are placed on a plinth made of recycled paving stones. The roof structure and the benches, which stiffen the structure, re made of the same timber. The roof is felted and the wood parts are treated with a natural blend of tar and linseed oil.

The building was developed in cooperation with the city-owned Ekokumppanit Oy and the Parish of Tampere who contributed to the building materials. All the construction was done on site without electricity, mainly with hand tools.

Photos: Julia Kivelä / Malin Moisio