A New Stop Along the Way

The first AITTA katos at Pirttimäki

Pirttimäki is one of Southern Finland’s popular outdoor recreation areas and a gateway to the trails and landscapes of Nuuksio. Recently renovated and expanded, with a renewed cafeteria, improved facilities and a new football field, it is a natural starting point for walking, running, cycling, cross-country skiing, training and family days outdoors.

And before heading further into nature, there is often a reason to stop: to check the map, choose a route, change or tie your shoes, have a snack – or wait for a rain shower to pass.

This is where the first AITTA shelter (katos in Finnish) has found its home.

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Part of the AITTA collection, the shelter is designed for short stops along a route. Integrated benches provide seating, while the walls can accommodate maps and other useful information. Its robust timber construction follows the same nature-inspired design language as the rest of the AITTA family, making it particularly well suited to parks, trails and recreational landscapes.

For Pirttimäki, the katos was designed in a distinctive V-shaped configuration that responds to this particular location. The structure itself, however, is adaptable: its size and proportions can be tailored to the project, and different configurations are possible depending on the space and intended use.

A green roof and integrated lighting will soon complete the Pirttimäki installation. Both are available options for the AITTA shelter. The green roof strengthens its connection with the surrounding landscape, while lighting makes the structure useful during the darker hours – an important consideration for outdoor recreation in Nordic conditions.

The shelter can also be combined with AITTA benches, picnic sets and other elements, allowing the same material and design language to continue throughout a trail, park or recreational area.

At Pirttimäki, the first AITTA katos has become part of a place built around movement and time outdoors – a small stop before the journey continues.