TOPCOAT® panels give a stylish look to balconies

In Espoo’s most prestigious location, in the heart of Tapiola, a new residential complex representing a new era in living—Tapiolan Feenix—is nearing completion. The cladding on the project’s balcony facades was installed using Siparila’s Topcoat panels.

Feenix consists of two impressive tower blocks and one lower building, which include approximately 200 apartments and retail premises. The buildings have direct elevator access to the parking garage.

You can rightly say that Feenix is ​​not an ordinary residential building but a carefully designed, architecturally impressive entity. Professor architect SAFA Antti-Matti Siikala, whose previous works include Sanomatalo and New Children's Hospital, is responsible for the Feenix's design.

Feenix's three housing stock companies offer their residents style, quality, and individual quality of life. Luxury shows in the central location, carefully thought-out solutions that make everyday life easier, and exceptionally high-quality material choices.

The large, glass-enclosed balconies on the buildings’ facades rightly catch the eye. Siparila’s Topcoat was chosen for the exterior cladding of the balcony facades; its pre-finished panels and concealed fasteners ensure a clean and polished final result.

TOPCOAT met the project's requirements on appearance and the smoothness of the construction process

Kristo Herold,the project manager in charge of the overall project at MaxBuild Oy—the company providing project management services for this project—has been responsible for the collaboration with Siparila.He explains that the primary criterion for selecting Siparila’s Topcoat exterior cladding products for this project was their ability to meet the architectural requirements.

“The hidden fastening system for the Topcoat exterior siding panels aligns well with the aesthetic goals the architect has set for the project. The boards’ subtle brown hue, ‘roasted wheat,’ harmonizes well with the balcony railings and windows, and thanks to the hidden fastening system, the surface achieves the desired look right from the start.”

Another key reason for choosing Siparila’s Topcoat products was the advantages offered by the finished surface treatment and the ability to install hidden fasteners during the construction process.

"Since the panels are pre-coated and you can fasten them with a hidden fastening system, the construction will proceed without obstacles throughout the winter. This is important for a project of this size, as it spans several seasons. Since there are no visible nails in the panels, they no longer need to be coated after installation, except for the cutting surfaces", explains Herold.

Topcoat is a choice that makes everyday life easier

Since the ease of everyday life and living is a key consideration at Feenix in Tapiola, the choice of products also had to support this. The durable and long-lasting Topcoat met these requirements as well.

"With our own choices and solutions, we always try to influence the administration of the site and the ease of everyday life for the future residents", states Herold.

“At first, I was a little concerned that the architect wanted a translucent coating for the exterior siding, which typically requires maintenance every 3–4 years. However, Siparila offered a ‘Natural Tones’ translucent coating in a shade that appealed to the architect’s eye, and it comes with a 10-year warranty. That was one of the deciding factors—the exterior siding will stay looking good for a long time, and its maintenance won’t cause any unnecessary disruption to the residents,” Herold continues.

With Siparila, you will find the best solution for every site

Herold was already familiar with Siparila, so he had no doubts about the quality of the products or the service.

“At our company, MaxBuild Oy, we have been using Siparila’s Topcoat system for the exterior cladding of all the wooden houses we’ve built since 2014—a total of about 10 projects. Overall, we have received excellent quality from Siparila, which is why we have continued to choose the same products.”

"The cooperation with Siparila has also been functional, and I feel that we have always received what we needed. They have confronted us and solved problems together with us", Herold continues.

"Often, good service gets personified, and in this case, by Siparila's sales director Olli Prättälä. Cooperation with him has been great: he is extremely professional and tells directly how any product works on the site and which products are the best suitable. He pursues not only the interests of Siparila but also the client. We need to be able to trust the supplier."