How can ancient building traditions help shape the future of carbon-neutral architecture? Zero Arctic explores this question by uncovering the wisdom of indigenous and vernacular design from Finland—offering groundbreaking insights for sustainable construction in northern climates. Led by renowned Finnish architect and master restorer Marko Huttunen of Livady Architects, this research delves into time-tested techniques that minimize environmental impact while enhancing resilience and cultural identity.

Join us at FinnFest 2025 for an inspiring presentation that bridges past and future, tradition and innovation. Whether you’re an architect, designer, or simply passionate about sustainable living, this lecture will challenge conventional thinking and offer new pathways for reimagining the built environment in an era of climate change. It’s a rare opportunity to engage with research that could redefine cold-climate architecture on a global scale.

Presenter Bio: Marko Huttunen is a Finnish architect, master restorer, and founding partner at Livady Architects, a Helsinki-based practice specializing in the renewal of traditional townscapes and the conservation of historic timber buildings across Finland. With a background grounded in both architectural history and hands-on craft, Huttunen is known for his deep expertise in log construction, vernacular detailing, and the sustainable repair of cultural landscapes.

For over two decades, he has led restoration projects that range from farmhouses and civic buildings to church complexes and wooden urban blocks. His approach emphasizes the use of appropriate materials, climate-adaptive building techniques, and respect for the spatial and cultural logic of traditional Finnish architecture.

Huttunen was a contributing researcher to Zero Arctic, a Nordic research collaboration focused on designing for Arctic and sub-Arctic climates by drawing from Indigenous and vernacular knowledge. His work on the project highlighted the ecological and technical intelligence embedded in northern timber construction, helping reframe climate adaptation through architectural heritage.

He is currently completing a major publication titled Construction of the Finnish Farmhouse, slated for release in 2026. The book will be the most comprehensive study to date of Finland’s traditional rural architecture, synthesizing practical field experience with architectural research. It features original drawings, photographs, and archival material, documenting techniques, tools, and building typologies across regions and centuries.

Through both design and scholarship, Marko Huttunen is a leading advocate for the enduring value of local building traditions and their role in shaping a more resilient, culturally rooted future.