(UPM, Helsinki, 26 March, at 10:30) – UPM has been selected as the timber supplier for renowned Nordic architect Sami Rintala's installation "Ark" for the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington London.
The exhibition "1:1 Architects Build Small Places" consists of several architectural indoor installations which reflect the theme - retreat. One of the key targets of the exhibition is to introduce the public to contemporary architecture in 1:1 scale instead of drawings and images.
Sami Rintala's design "Ark" is a three-storey book tower dedicated to reading and studying which offers a relaxing and retreating approach for exploring books. The basic structure of the three-store book tower is to be built of Finnish construction timber (whitewood) and stairs and platforms of glue-laminated redwood boards.
"The book tower attracts visitors to the museum, like moths to a lamp. From the outside we can see white paper, which is also made of wood. Inside we are served with a colourful story of the biodiversity of our planet, its beauty and disappearance. Every week 500 species disappear, never to return. Every week the last representative of a language and a culture passes away. Our work is like a small lighthouse that tries to steer us on a new course, towards diversity and greater appreciation of the spirit of the place, a biodiversity that includes humans," Mr. Rintala explains.
Mr. Rintala is an international architect who was awarded the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in 2009. Rintala works in Norway together with his associate Dagur Eggertsson and is a senior professor at Trondheim's NTNU.
The architectural installations at the V&A exhibition explore themes such as play, work, performance and study in 1:1 scale. The exhibition is open to the public 15 June until 31 August. The V&A museum attract approximately more than 2 million visitors annually.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Antti Ratia, Head of Communications, UPM Timber, tel. +358 2041 47201, antti.ratia@upm.com
Ms. Joanne Nurminen, Marketing Manager, UPM Timber, UK & Ireland, +44 1628 513328, joanne.nurminen@upm.com
UPM, Media Desk
Puh. +358 40 5883284, communications@upm-kymmene.com
Notes for editors
About UPM
UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 23,000 people and it has production facilities in 15 countries. In 2009, UPM's sales amounted to EUR 7.7 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange
UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upmbiofore.com and www.upm-kymmene.com
About UPM Timber
UPM Timber produces sawn timber and further processed timber products to building and construction industry and joinery. The annual production capacity is 2,3 million cubic metres of timber products. UPM Timber has production units in Austria, Finland, France and Russia. In Finland, UPM operates 5 sawmills which are located in Lappeenranta, Kajaani, Pietarsaari, Korkeakoski and Pori. UPM Timber employs approx. 1,200 people.
About the V&A South Kensington
V&A South Kensington is the world's greatest museum of art and design, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. Discover 3000 years' worth of amazing artefacts from many of the world's richest cultures including ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewellery, metalwork, photographs, sculpture, textiles and paintings.
http://www.vam.ac.uk