REED CONSTRUCTION IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

Edited by Helga Stenman

TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

 REED CONSTRUCTION
IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

This publication has been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund
through the Interreg III A Programme between Southern Finland and Estonia.
Phrag
mites
Aust
ralis
R E E D C O N S T R U C T I O N
I N T H E B A L T I C S E A R E G I O N

TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 2008

REED CONSTRUCTION
IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

EDITOR
Helga Stenman

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Jussi Riihiranta and Jussi Hattara

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tiia Tilus

BACK COVER PHOTO

Petri Leppl

Reports from Turku University of Applied Sciences 68

Turku University of Applied Sciences
Turku 2008

ISBN 978-952-216-036-2 (printed)

ISSN 1457-7925 (printed)

ISBN 978-952-216-037-9 (PDF)

ISSN 1459-7764 (electronic)
http://julkaisut.turkuamk.fi/isbn9789522160379.pdf
C O N T E N T S
FOR THE READER 8

INTRODUCTION 10

SUPPLY AND PROCESSING OF BUILDING MATERIAL

Harvesting, treatment and use of reed 16

TRADITIONAL REED CONSTRUCTION

History of reed construction 24

Reed roofs in Finland 32

Reed roofs in land 38

Reed roofs in Estonia 46

NEW REED CONSTRUCTION

Reed designs
Reed chapel 56

Reed canary grass shelter 66

Reed roofed residential area 76

Reed elements

Reed as building material 88

Reed construction work

Expertise in reed construction - An interview of Hartwig Reuter 104

Under a reed roof

Usko and Taina Paananen - Talk about living in a reed house 120

IN CONCLUSION 131
 Loved child has many names
In Finland reed is called as

r u o k o r y t i k a i s l a p e h k u r y t e i k k

Hartwig Reuter
 For the reader
This publication is a description of the common reed, its usages as a building material and its
properties as construction elements. The story was made by the persons participating in the
building theme group of the Reed Strategy in Finland and Estonia project. The group has also
examined the use of reed for building with curiosity in a versatile and diversified way in an
international context. The group included persons who research, teach or study the use of
reed in building and in building traditions, as well as those who want to enhance the use of
reed or just to enjoy its beauty.

The supply of building material and its treatment for production has been described by
persons involved in the planning and implementation of harvesting methods. Unfortunately,
we could not find anyone interested in writing about the use of reed in earth construction,
especially in coastal areas. Instead, reed thatches, which are the most visible part of the reed
building tradition as well as new constructions, have been surveyed by several writers.

8
In this publication new reed construction projects are presented as draft designs and
sketches. The ideas have been created by Finnish and Italian students of architecture and
interior design. The use of reed in building elements and the research of reeds moisture,
thermal and fire resistance properties was carried out as a part of TUAS degree studies in Civil
Engineering. One of the aims was to document the life work of our Finnish-German expert in
reed building, Hartwig Reuter. It was carried out by a student of Sustainable Development.
The interview of Usko Paananen narrates experiences in building a house of reed, and living
in one.

A nice modern reed thatch in Denmark in the 1970s was shimmering in my mind when I
agreed to edit this book. It has been pleasant to work with you, all and sundry. My thanks to
the members of the theme group, and special thanks to the writers. I am looking forward to
having my own reed thatch on the cottage shore full of common reed.

Turku 1.10.2007
Helga Stenman, Architect, Senior Lecturer, Turku University of Applied Sciences

9
 Introduction
Common reed (Phragmites australis) is a grass which has spread nearly all over the globe. It
is common in many kinds of wet habitats, but in Finland it is found mainly around lush and
shallow bays on the coastline and inland waters, forming large monocultures of one species.
Common reed is a very tall grass, reaching at best the height of four meters on the coasts of
the Baltic Sea. In the wintertime the straw becomes a hard, yellowish stem, which makes it
possible to exploit the reed also in construction.

In daily life reed tends to get mixed up with other species, and in Finland it is confused with
bulrush (Schoenoplectus lacustris) and grey bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) of
the sedge family. Reed beds proliferated quickly in our coastal areas in the late 20th century
after pasturage came to its end, due to the nutrient load from air and water, as well as the mild
winters.

Reed material has been exploited in many ways around the Baltic Sea. A Roman citizen, Pliny
the Elder, wrote in 66 A.D.:

The northern people cover their houses with reed, and the thatches are very durable.

For building purposes, reed can be gathered in the winter and early spring from the top of the
ice or other hard surfaces. Reed has several merits even in Finland: due to its silicon dioxide
content it is a very enduring material, there is a large unexploited domestic reserve, and it is
annually renewable. In the coastal areas of Southern Finland alone, there are 30 000 hectares
of reed, which is in practice not exploited in any way, but it forms a decomposing reed-mat
which often causes a problem for water quality, scenery, and recreational use. Comparing the
situation with e.g. Germany, one might say that they have a growing demand, but no material.
Here we have a contrary situation. However, on the Finnish coastlines, a historical tradition of
roofs with added weight has prevailed, and reed has been used in handicraft and as fodder,
but these usages have almost totally vanished.

10
The opening words of the Reed Strategy in Finland and Estonia project were actually said already
in the year 2003, when the International Reed Seminar in Salo town was planned and organized by
the newly founded Association for Traditional Rural Landscapes in Southwest Finland. The parties
involved in the seminar created an international cooperation network which was used in a more
extensive Interreg IIIA project coordinated by the Southwest Finland Regional Environment Centre.
The interdisciplinary approach to the sustainable use of reed beds and coastal areas was
fascinating and challenging. The project seemed like it was created for the Interreg programme.
This time the Estonian construction experts acted as big brother to Finland; reed is widely exploited
in Estonia for roofing and, in a minor scale, in commercial building isolation plate production.

The project proclaimed a competitive bidding, and reed was for the first time harvested in Finland
with a big Seiga cutter with a bcs cutting blade. Reed gathered from Sipoo, Salo and Turku was
used in training courses organized by Cursor Ltd., with Estonian teachers. In early 2007 the first
Finnish reed harvesting machine was bought from Poland by a Finnish entrepreneur.

Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) had an important role in the project in carrying out the
practical testing, as well as the research on construction engineering and traditional construction. In
the project, reed was joined with clay and concrete to form bricks, which were used for planning
elements. A basis for wider exploitation of reed in Finland was created by the enthusiastic students
writing their graduation theses, and also by the highly professional teachers. The project fire safety
solutions as well as functioning structural and fire safety regulations from other countries were
presented during the national "Fire safety and constructions" -day in spring 2007 in Turku.

Reed harvesting machine of Kelopukki Ltd at Halikonlahti Bay. Photo: Sami Lyytinen
The aim of the project was to gather information and to carry out our own research and surveys
for a basis to create a reed strategy for the pilot areas. The strategy mapped the reed beds
which (1) should be left untouched, (2) could be exploited and (3) should be restored to coastal
meadows. The pilot areas in Finland were Salo and the Hirvensalo district in Turku. Issues
concerning water protection, recreational use, biodiversity and exploitation were taken into
account according to their importance. The key factor was to find a balance between the
different usages. The special features of each area were observed, but also a wider
perspective, including issues related to landscape and ecology, was considered. There should
be a sufficient amount of well-kept coastal meadows because today they are a minimal factor,
which means that their area in Finland has been reduced to about 3000 hectares. On the other
hand, it would be important for the landowners on the coast to find durable solutions for
summer harvesting of the reeds, or their disposal.

The challenge was to find a wider scope for promoting the strategy on the coastal areas. The
municipal and governmental authorities should set an example for promoting the local use of
reed: reed is suitable for service buildings like nature huts in reed-bed bird bays or
boathouses, but it can also be used for roofing of residential buildings. TUAS was one of the
instigators of the project for a natural material bank, which in its turn can increase the use of
reed. During the year 2007 a thatched gate structure was built in Nauvo, and a whole
residential area with thatched houses was planned in Salo.

In the future, the harvesting of reed should also be subsidized through the environmental
support scheme for agriculture or other national schemes: when carried out in an appropriate
way, reed harvesting has direct effects on water and air pollution control and biodiversity, and
its ecological rucksack is very light. Optimally, reed harvesting should also be connected to the
production of bioenergy and the maintenance of conservation areas. Harvesting for
construction could be made more profitable, if waste material could be used for pellets or
bricks made of reed and clay. Within the project, an employment training model was created
for the harvesting, treatment and usage of reed, in cooperation with the companies in the field.

Iiro Ikonen, Project Coordinator, Southwest Finland Regional Environment Centre

Common reed is today both the horror and the beauty of our coastlines.
The beauty can rapidly disappear from the eye of the beholder if all landscapes, beaches and
sea-lanes are covered with reed.

Photo: Eija Hagelberg

13
 Photo:
Sari Sjroos
S U P P L Y A N D P R O C E S S I N G O F
B U I L D I N G M A T E R I A L
16
Siim Sooster

HARVESTING, TREATMENT AND USE OF REED

 Mechanical winter
harvesting in Hiidemaa.

Photo: Martti Nakari

Reed has been exploited for centuries. It has been used for feeding animals, in bed clothing
and in construction. In construction, reed has been used for roof material and heat insulation.
In earlier times, reed was gathered with sickles, scythes and other cutting tools. Nowadays,
mechanical cutting has increased considerably.

In manual cutting by sickle or scythe, about 30-40 bundles per person can be cut, bound and
transported daily. When using a modern reed harvester, the corresponding number is
3000-4000 bundles per day. However, traditional manual cutting has its merits. When working
by hand, the most suitable reed can be selected on the spot and bound to bundles which are
ready for use in roofing. The harvester cuts all the reed without any selection. That means that
the reed must be sorted and cleaned manually.

Cutting normally starts in December when the reed is dry and the leaves have fallen.
Everything depends on the weather, and in some years the cutting can be started as late as
mid-March.Generally the cutting season lasts until the end of April. There is some seasonal
and regional variation, depending on how fast the new reed grows. Cutting is not possible
when it is raining, the wind is strong, the water is high, or there is a lot of snow. So, in practice
the effective cutting time may only be a couple of days per year. Reed is gathered on the lakes
and coastal bays. New areas, meaning places where reed has not been gathered before,
must be cut clean during the first winter. First-year reed cannot be used for roofing material,
because it consists nearly by half of over-year reed. The reed can, however, be used for
insulation plates or as chaff in clay construction. The yield of the reed-growing areas differs to
the extent of 400-500 bundles per hectare.

18
 Cleaning and storage
of reed.

Photo: Martti Nakari

There are set requirements for reed being used for roofs in Europe. The reed bundles must be
62-64 cm in circumference, and 100-220 cm in length. The bundle must be bound at two
points: one at 10 cm and the other at 50 cm from the bottom edge. The reed must be yellowish
and the stem must be straight and less than 8 mm thick.

The harvesters cut and bind the bundles and transport them to storage areas along the
shores. The harvester platform, normally 3 x 4 meters, can carry 400-600 bundles per load.
From the shore the wet reed is transported to a separate storage area and the dry reed is
taken to a storehouse. The wet reed is piled in stacks or shooks. The best and quickest way
of drying the reed is in the open air. The reed stacks are placed in windy spots with the
uppermost layer sloping slightly, so that rain water can flow down.

The reed must be sorted according to colour, thickness and straightness. Mechanically bound
bundles are opened up for sorting and cleaning. Trash, leaves and short straws are cleaned
by holding the bundle from the top and shaking them off. The Danish and the Dutch also clean
the reed mechanically: an electric motor rotates a drum, where special combs cleans the reed
bundles.

19
 Reed roof being
made in Hiidemaa

and here is a completed

reed roof in Kina.

Photos:
Martti Nakari
In the storehouse the dry reed is packed in bundles and the measures are checked with
calibrators. Each bundle only contain uniform reed. Short and long, coniform and non-
coniform reed cannot be placed in the same bundle. In order to make storage and transport
easier, the reed bundles are packed in rolls. In each roll, the bundles are bound with wire in
bigger batches of 25 or 50 bundles, 235 cm long. When the standard breadth of a truck
platform is 240 cm, the rolls of correct size are easy to transport to the building site. In storage,
six layers of rolls can be placed one upon the other. In a dry, ventilated storehouse the reed
will remain usable for years.

In conclusion, reed can be used for several purposes: shortish, coniform reed is good material
for roofing, whereas long and thick stems are suitable for lathing and heating mats. Reed
bales are being used more and more in construction. The waste from cleaning up the roof
reed is packed in rectangular bales of 40 x 50 x 60 cm. A wall made of reed bales is plastered
with clay or lime mortar, the result being a breathing house with good thermal insulation a
truly ecological house. In recent times, a mixture of crushed reed straw and clay has also been
used. The mass can be used for walling, flooring and thermal insulation.

Long and thick reed

used for clay plastering.

Photo: Hartwig Reuter

From everything said above, one can draw the conclusion that it is possible to harvest reed
in such a way that several products can be made from the same yield. We can only hope
that in our hectic world there will still be people who can find the time and motivation to use
reed as construction material.

Siim Sooster, reed entrepreneur, Hiidemaa, Kina

21
 Photo:
Iiro Ikonen
T R A D I T I O N A P
L E RR EI N
E D
N E CR OA NK SE TN RT UA C
M TI N
I OE NN
24
Markku Hyvnen

HISTORY OF REED CONSTRUCTION

 For centuries, man has used materials of the nature to build shelters for living. Shelter has
been needed against rain, wind, sun, cold and dampness. The changes in weather and vegetation
have determined the choice of materials in each case. The starting point has generally been
the local availability of construction materials.

The skill to build shelters has been a life line for people exposed to the elements. In his travel
account from the turn of the 20th century Russian naturalist, Vladimir Arsenjev, describes the
natural resourcefulness of his guide, a hunter of the Siberian Goldi tribe, they were in a rising
snowstorm surrounded by floods on an islet where the only vegetation was reed. In distress,
they hurriedly started to cut the reeds under the instructions of their guide, Dersu Uzala.
Outside a circular area, however, the reed was left uncut. Within this ring the reed was
gathered in a heap, and the surrounding reeds were tied together with straps, to make a hut
over them. This prevented the wind from blowing the shelter away, and the snow that built up
on the hut gave more heat insulation for those inside.

The hut represents one of the most primitive forms of shelter. It was often made of skin or cloth
stretched on poles mounted in the ground, but in treeless areas also reed has been used for
building huts. This kind of shepherds hut on the Hungarian puszta is presented in a photo by
Mor Erdelyi (1877-1929), in the archives of the National Board of Antiquities and Historical
Monuments.

There is no conclusive evidence of the straw and grass materials which have probably been
used for walls and roofs in prehistoric times. A general assumption is that reed roofs would
have also been used. Reed is a grass that has spread all over the globe. In the Kuralan
Kylmki Village of the Turku Provincial Museum there is an archeological workshop with a
presumed reconstruction of an Iron Age hut. The huts reed roof was restored in the autumn of
2006. The roof was built mainly with modern construction methods of concealed fastening by
binding with iron bars and wires. One sector of the roof, however, was made by using wooden
poles and birch twigs. After the first winter, the different ways of fastening cannot be seen
outwardly. The walls of the hut were covered with vertical reed, bound with tarred rope by using
reed bands.

26
 A shepherd in front of
a reed hut. SUK 144:24
Hungary, Hortagyi puszta.
Photo: Mr Erdlyi

National Board of Antiquities

and Historical Monuments.
1138/07

The first written record of the use of reed as roofing material dates back to the year 66 AD. A
Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, writes about Germanic peoples who make durable thatches
of reed. This spread north, where thatches made of corn straw is believed to have started from
northern Italy during the Roman Empire. It came to Finland by two routes, through Denmark
and Sweden, and through the Baltic countries. A prerequisite for the spread of thatches has
been the availability of rye straws, which are the most suitable material for roofing. Already in
the 15th century, rye was the most important crop in Southwestern Finland. After threshing the
long rye straws remained intact in drying barns. Written records of thatches in Finland date
back to the 17th century. During inspections of military buildings at that time thatches were
ordered to be replaced by roofs made of birch bark.

27
 In the 18th and 19th centuries thatches were common in Finland in courtyard buildings. In the
folklore atlas written by a Swedish ethnologist, Sigurd Erixon, the distribution of Finnish
thatches is also described.

According to the fastening method, roofs can be divided into two main types: those which are
held in place by weight poles fixed on the top, and those which are bound to underneath roof
structures. The roofs with weight poles are divided into Central Swedish and Northern
Swedish types, according to the direction of the weight poles.

The most common type in our country has been the Northern Swedish roof with added weight
poles. In that type, the straws have been placed on top of the joists between the gables, and
they are kept in place under weight poles which are placed in line with the ridge. The weight
poles are often mounted on pegs in the gables. Heavier beams have been added in line with
the slope in order to keep the underneath weight poles in place. This roof type has been very
common in the whole country. A balanced and rhythmic shape is given by the poles and the
gently sloping form. It has been so common in e.g. Ostrobothnian landscapes covered with
barns that a picture of it has ended up on the label of the Koskenkorva liquor bottle. One
disadvantage is that the weight poles stop the free flow of water down the roof, so its life cycle
is rather short.

In the Central Swedish roof type the straws are kept in place by beams fastened to each other
in pairs on the ridge. In some roofs the beams are spruce trunks where some branches have
not been lopped off, so that the crosswise beams will keep the straws in place. The beams can
also be totally lopped, but they must be placed so densely that the straws will not press out
through the gaps. At the bottom edge of the beams there is a weight pole in line with the ridge,
in order to keep the beams in place in the wind. On the ridge there is often a birdsong perch
placed on the beams to give posture to the roof. This roof type is more durable than the
Northern Swedish type because there are no crosswise poles to stop the free water flow.

28
A hut with reed roof
in the Kuralan Kylmki
Village.

Photo: Markku Hyvnen

A boathouse in Maksamaa.

Photo: Markku Hyvnen

An outbuilding with reed roof in Heinola rural municipality. Photo: Markku Hyvnen

Making a roof with weight poles has been possible with almost any mans skills. However,
a master craftsman is needed as foreman for making a roof with underneath binding. The
roof type with underneath binding has a more developed and durable structure. In Finland
it has also been called the Scanian type. The same basic structure has also been used in
Estonia, and the present-day roofs of residential buildings in Denmark, England, Germany,
Hungary and elsewhere in Europe represent this rooftype. This roof type is considered to
have replaced the earlier ones when spreading slowly towards the North. In Finland this type
had not yet become common before its triumphal march was ended by shingle machines in
the middle of the 19th century, and finally by threshers in the 20th century, because the rye
straws were no longer usable for roofing.

In roofs with underneath binding the straws are bound either straight to the joists or to beams
which are fastened to the roof truss. The straws are placed on the slope, normally with the
base facing the eaves. Support is given by a pole on the top level of the straw layer, which
is in its turn covered by the next layer. The straws may have been left on the roof in steps of
sheaves, but more often they have been leveled along the slope with a cogged, rake-looking
tool made of wood. The old way of binding has been to use rope twisted of straw, supple
twigs of birch or rowan saplings, and cord that may have been tarred for better strength. Later
on, wires have became more common in fastening. The slopes of roofs with underneath
binding are very durable. It has been possible to make them steeper than roofs with weight
-
poles, which in turn has made them more weatherproof. The most vulnerable point in these
roofs is the ridge, which has to be replaced more often than the slopes
Rye straw as roofing material was to some extent replaced by reed. In the Finnish RT Building
Information File there is a standard sheet for reed roofs from the year 1943. Reed had even
been used for roofing earlier in e.g. the archipelago areas with no rye. The use of reed, which
is a stronger material than straw, was slowed down because reed had to be separately
gathered, whereas rye straws were a by-product of threshing in drying barns. Earlier reed was
much less common in nature than today, because it was also used as fodder. Eutrophication
of the waters has also increased the growth of reed beds.

In landscapes, reed roofs have mainly been visible in boathouses and shore buildings of the
archipelago areas. The disappearance of the earlier common shore buildings and the change
of roofing materials to standard products have made the landscapes more monotonous.
Building on the shorelines has also been restricted by planning regulations. It is a laborious
task to make a reed roof, but on the other hand, its life cycle is said to be even a hundred
years. Very few modern roofing materials can achieve the same. Hopefully there is a new
future for reed roofs.

A new future for reed roofs could also be found by starting new reed product development,
where nothing much has happened for hundreds of years, except for the introduction of metal
fastenings. Would it be possible to improve fire resistance with modern, electronic sensors
and fire-fighting equipment integrated in the roof structures? Would it be possible to make an
element extending from the ridge to the eaves, or a manufactured, overlapping element like a
roof tile? Would it be possible to make pressed composite elements of reed? Are there
undiscovered possibilities in joining clay and reed? What new features could creative
architectural planning give to reed construction besides borrowing from old traditions?

Markku Hyvnen, Architect, Senior Lecturer, TUAS

31
32
Eija Suna

REED ROOFS IN FINLAND

 Traditional reed roofs have mostly disappeared from the Finnish cultural landscape.
Judging from old photographs, one could draw the conclusion that reed roofs have never been
very common in Finland. Instead, plenty of thatches made of straw can be seen in photos of
outbuildings from as late as the mid 20th century. During my career of more than 20 years as
curator, the reed roofs (mostly remains) I have encountered are no more than a handful.

The projects started in the 2000s have given a new birth to reed construction even in Finland.
The ideas and skills have come from Estonia where reed construction has been very common,
and unlike in our country, reed roofs have been widely used also in residential buildings. The
tradition has continued uninterruptedly in Estonia, though many reed roofs cannot be seen
any more in e.g. Tallinn.

Reed is very suitable for the traditional construction boom favoring natural materials, which
can clearly be seen in Finland today. Natural materials tar paper, flax, ingredients for
cooking red ochre paint etc. are available again, unlike in the 1970s and 1980s, when they
could not be found in any ordinary do-it-yourself shops. The increased availability of reed, due
to both the decreasing amount of cattle grazing and the eutrophication of the waters, has
offered a good starting point for the new use of reed.

For the time being, the commercial harvesting and exploitation of reed is still seeking its form:
the reed used as construction material is imported mainly from Estonia, and even from more
distant countries. For a do-it-yourself builder and enthusiast, who does not count the hours
spent for the gathering and pretreatment, it is a most suitable material. The chance to clean
up ones own shore at the same time gives even more drive to the project.

34
Photo: Hartwig Reuter
 In the traditional sense, reed is most suitable for outbuildings sheds, boathouses and open
shelters (used for grilling, feeding, storage, sunshade etc.). For this kind of purpose the
Estonian roofing method, which is planned for large, residential log houses, may not be the
best solution. The traditional Finnish thatch there are old photographs of thatches, and some
people have personal memories of them might serve as an example. Of course, the know-how
and skills available in Estonia can be used, but very few outbuildings need such a strong roof
as the traditional Estonian model. On the other hand, the stronger the roof is, the longer its life
cycle.

Reed roofs can also be used for residential buildings, though not in houses of cultural and
historical value, where it has never been used. In new construction reed can be one
alternative roofing material. When choosing the site, attention should be paid to the suitability
of the environment as in all construction. The special shape of the thick Estonian reed roof
would be out of line in the traditional Finnish village scene. It could be used in new areas
covered by a town plan, e.g. in a separate block with similar houses, or on a peaceful spot
near the woods.

Reed construction follows the immemorial rule that the material should be found near the site.
If the reed bundles on the roof are bound with twigs, the worn out roof can be carried straight
to the garden for covering or compost. The use of materials like reed is most desirable from
an environmental point of view.

Eija Suna, Curator, Turku Provincial Museum

36
Coffee party in Houtskr in the early 20th century. It is difficult to judge from the picture what the roof material of the
house to the right is either straw or reed. Structurally, the roof represents the basic type of thatched roof used in Finland,
where weight has been added on top of the straws in order to keep the roof material in place. In some roofs stones have been
used for weight, in other cases wooden weight poles. The roofs have also been called weight roofs.

Photo: Turku Provincial Museum archives

37
38
Anne Nordling

REED ROOFS IN LAND

 In my thesis for the Degree Programme in Restoration I have studied the distribution of
reed roofs and the exploitation of reed in land. My conclusion was that the tradition of reed
roofs is fading, or has actually already become extinct also in the land archipelago areas.

My thesis was based on interviews and archive research. I interviewed five persons on their
recollections about reed roofs. I found these persons through my personal contacts and a
newspaper article, and later on I even gave a warrant of apprehension on the radio. Finding
persons with this kind of recollection proved to be a surprisingly demanding task. I had
presumed that there would have been plenty of elderly people who could tell about their
experiences. However, it turned out that even in their youth reed roofs had been so rare that
they could not have been considered common in the archipelago areas.

When I started my work, I thought that reed roofs had really never been common in the
archipelago. The persons I interviewed remembered that the number of reed roofs had been
rather small in their village. I got the impression that shingle and birch bark had been more
popular as roofing material, and the use of reed had been uncommon because of fire safety
reasons. Later on, when studying the archive sources, I found out that reed has been a very
common roofing material in boathouses and outbuildings during and before the early 20th
century. The oldest person I interviewed was 84 years of age. That means he had no personal
recollections of the time of reed roofs! My studies were enhanced by archive material including
many pictures, giving evidence to the fact that reed roofs had earlier been an integral part of
the construction tradition in the land islands.

Anyway, reed has had an indispensable role in peoples lives, especially in pre-industrial
times. Agricultural land is not too plentiful on the islands, so reed has largely been a substitute
for hay as winter feed for cows and sheep. Also the milk production of cows feeding on reed
was better than that of cows fed with fodder which was generally considered to be a more
balanced diet of better quality. Reed was abundant on the shorelines, and it was relatively
easy to gather it both on the shore or from a boat. Reed was normally cut after the time of hay
making in August-September. When a sufficient amount, or the reed growing on ones own
shore, had been gathered, it was dried and stored for the winter. The inflorescence were cut
off and used for fillings in pillows and mattresses. In some villages the reed flower heads
became a source of extra income: once their own pillows and mattresses had been filled up,
the remainder was sold. According to a housewife in Emkarby, who had been interviewed by
Professor Helmer Tegengren in 1967, the flower heads were sold in pounds (of ca. 10 kg), and
the price was about 12 marks per pound. She also said that there was a big demand because
many people did not have enough reeds on their shores to be used for filling their pillows.

40
The versatility of the common reed is well described in an article called:

Man, reed and the cultural landscape written by Nils Stor in 1995:
On the basis of professional literature from the 18th century, which the dissertation
mentioned above also refers to, reed has been used not only for roofing material and
cattle feed, but also in gardens to cover beds of seedlings. In addition, it has been used in
ceilings and walls of residential houses for plastering and rendering. Straw has been used
in weaving for bobbins, and for cartridge wire in the artillery. The cut-off tops were used for
dusting, and the soft flower heads mainly for filling of pillows and mattresses. Flower
heads were also used for dyeing wool cloth to give a green color, and the roots have been
used in several ways in folk medication. (Stor, 1995, 137)

One of the problems in my thesis was that reed roofs had been built according to everyones
own judgement and skills. This means that there were no written instructions or manuals
available. The result was that all roofs were individual and difficult to classify. There is a lot of
variation in the conception of how thick a layer of reed should be. One of my interviewees had
built a reed roof for his drying barn in the 1960s. He had placed a 10-15 cm thick layer of reed
upon the old shingles, and joists parallel to the ridge upon the reed layer to make sure that the
reeds would stay still. Another person told me that he had a built a reed roof in Marsund on
Ecker island in 2001, wanting to prove that the reed roof of a nearby barn had been built in a
heretical way by the land Provincial Museum. He took his model from the Scanian roof type,
considering that to be the best alternative. When I visited him on the site, I could see that the
ridge of the roof built by the Provincial Museum had indeed partly fallen flat. That had not
happened with my interviewees roof. The difference was that he had placed reed straw for
filling under the weight poles at the ridge, so that the connection point of the reeds would look
neater and keep its posture in the long run. He had had clear instructions when he started his
work and had made thorough preparations for the project by studying and finding out about the
relevant issued connected with roof construction. In the early days these kinds of skills passed
from fathers to sons, and to some extent from one parish or region to another. Traditions will
have some variations, because the needs and conceptions of the builders will change in the
course of time. The farmers had no need to document their doings by drawings or written
instructions. They simply did what they thought was for the best.

41
 The last question in my interviews was:
When did the construction of reed roofs come to an end?
Nearly everybody had a common answer or opinion to the question:
After the wars they were no longer used.

This phenomenon was often explained by the availability of new roofing materials which were
easier to use and had a longer life cycle. Another fact that must be considered is that the whole
society, including the inhabitants of the archipelago, was on the verge of an industrial
breakthrough and growing welfare. More and more people moved from the islands to urban
communities. Their whole life condition was changed, and under the circumstances there was
no reason to expect that the extinction of reed roofs would have been any common concern.
Maybe the archipelago inhabitants, who often belonged to the working class and were
recovering from long-lasting poverty and distress, did not want to decline to the level of reed
roofs when their barns needed new roofing. I may be wrong, but I presume that the aesthetic
and ecological qualities of reed were not appreciated in the same way as they would be today.
It was natural to choose a modern felt roofing which was durable, practical and also rather
economical. It is quite clear that today nobody is in the same way dependent on the use of
reed. The old useful plant has become a weed, a downright nuisance to the waters.

The problems of restoration always include the question of how old construction methods
should be preserved or applied in todays world. How natural is it to include e.g. a traditional
building or detail in a developed area? How to treasure traditions in such a way that they can
give coherent, sensible and even aesthetic solutions today?

The welfare in present-day Finland has certainly given us the possibility to consider
sustainable and aesthetic values in new construction or restoration. Aesthetic values and
sustainable development are issues we can focus on, now that social welfare is on a more
stable basis that in the post-war times. We dont need to think that the new usage of some old
traditions would be a step backwards. On the contrary, it can be seen as a step towards
balanced and sustainable thinking in the middle of the rapid growth. The use of reed and the
problems involved are still a minor factor in a larger context but, on the other hand, why should
we not revive a good old tradition and apply it in todays world?

Anne Nordling, Undergraduate in Restoration, Turku University of Applied Sciences

44
A boathouse in land. Photo: SE Krooks 1959. Swedish Literary Society

45
46
Ago Rullingo

REED ROOFS IN ESTONIA

 In the past thatches were made of rye straw in Estonia. Around the late 1800s and early
1900s the sickle lost its position to the scythe and soon also to the harvester. Therefore, long,
uniform straw was no longer available as a by-product. Manual harvesting also came to an
end. For the purposes of thatching, straw was replaced by reed, which is abundant in the
shallow bays of the southern coast of Muhu and in Vike Vin. Reed roofs were to a certain
extent known even earlier. In the early 1900s reed roofs were common especially in the
sparsely wooded areas in Muhu, Saaremaa and Lnemaa. In 1922 the number of reed roofs
was largest in Muhu, 81.5 % of all roofs in residential buildings. In addition, some old thatches
were still in use. Reed roofs remained common in Muhu until the 1960s, when they were
replaced by corrugated sheet roofs.

a b c

d e g

Structure of a reed roof: a-d order of roofing, e-completed roof, g-h tools. Sketch: Karl Tihase

48
The dimensions of the roof and walls were standard the width of the roof pane from the
topmost wall balk to the comb was normally two thirds of the entire width of the house. The
height of the roof was added by broad eaves which sheltered the walls from the strain of the
elements. The building of a reed roof was started from the eaves. Small tied reed bundles
were placed in the first layer by the eaves. The next layer from the eaves was made from loose
reeds. Reeds were handed in bundles to the roof maker who untied them and placed them on
the joist as an even layer (d). On top of the joist the reeds were covered by a plank of wood,
trimmed on one side, (c) which pressed the reeds tightly to the joist where the reeds were
bound. Before binding, the reed layer was driven even using a claw plate (g, h). During the
installation of the mounting lath, the reed was supported with a specialized tool. The mounting
lath was tied at intervals of 2-3 feet. Bonds were usually made with pre-bent, dried and soaked
birch or willow twigs (b). After the tying the reed butts were once more evened. The tops of the
lower reed layer were left below the butts of the upper layer, so that only the tops of the
topmost layer (e) were visible on a finished roof. During the thatching, the reeds were
constantly evened using two kinds of boards. A wooden hammering board (g) with teeth
parallel to the arm was used on the roof. The teeth of the claw board (h) used to beat beneath
the roof were facing in the opposite direction. It was used to even out the unevenness detected
underneath the roof. Instead of an arm, the hammering board used to beat on top of the roof,
could have only a handle. When thatching had advanced to making of the ridge, the reeds
were bent on both sides over the ridge and attached to the rib with a mounting lath. After that
a ridge was built into the roof. The bent reed tops were covered with crosswise and slanted
straws (later on also with tender reed) and tied with pairs of attached gable reed guards to the
ridge beams. One reed guard was left on one, and the other on the other side of the roof. The
beams were connected with tender juniper pins. The space between the beams was about
half a metre. The beams in older buildings were especially long, and on smaller roofs they
could even reach the cornice.

49
A thatched roof was usually built by two men, but often there were more builders. At least one
of the builders had to condition the reed on the ground and hand it up to the roof. Roofs of
longer buildings were not constructed at one time, but rather in sections. A half or a third of the
roof was taken under work. That part was then thatched up to the ridge and then the thatching
of the next section was started. Thus to and fro walking on the roof was avoided and the reed
handed up could be collected in the same place.

The thickness of a thatched roof was usually 20-25 cm and the lifespan of the roof was
evaluated to be 40-60 years. The northern side of the roof that quickly became covered with
moss lasted longer. On the southern side, the sunlight and greater temperature variations
furthered the decomposition of the reed. A fathom of reed, or an amount of reed with one
fathom (2,13 metres) circumference at the stem, was needed to thatch a square fathom of
roof. It has been claimed that the technique to thatch straw and reed roofs was more advanced
in Muhu and Saaremaa, than in anywhere else in Estonia or its neighbouring countries.

A thatched roof is flammable. In the course of time at Muhu there have been harmful fires that
have burned several nearby farms. On the other hand, the flammability of roofs has forced
people to be more cautious when handling fire. It is known that in the late 19th century the
number of fires in Saare County was smaller than in the other counties of Estonia. The roofs
of summer kitchens and workshops without a ceiling were built from less flammable materials
like boards or stone. Roofs made out of woven twigs and covered with tussocks or straws
were also common earlier.

Also the high cost of a thatched roof has reduced their construction. In 2005 a thatched roof
cost about 500 krooni per square metre.

Ago Rullingo, researcher, Muhu Museum, 2005

Photo: Martti Nakari

51
 Photo:
Tiia Tilus
N E W R E E D C O N S T R U C T I O N
R E E D D E S I G N S
56
Tiia Tilus

REED CHAPEL
 Conceptual model of
a chapel.

Photos:
Tiia Tilus

What makes a place or space we know beautiful? Is it a memory, a flashback or a moment

that has thrilled us most? What aspects should we pursue when planning our developed
environment?

Observing our surroundings is part of the dialogue between man and the environment. We
examine and acknowledge our environment as a physical, social and cultural phenomenon.
Cultural environments aim to retain and reform our values associated with what we perceive
as beautiful. They also aim to nourish the remaining untouched nature. The beauty of our
day-to-day environment is in the scenery and the developed environment. We can ensure our
daily environments versatility and the continuation of our old handicraft tradition by valuing
both new and old buildings, by learning correct renovation methods, and by talking about the
importance of the developed environment.

In Finland the building skills associated with common reed were forgotten after the war. The
previously common thatched roofing is finding its way back as common reed roofing. In the
Baltic countries and in Northern Europe, reed building has been part of the architecture for a
long time. Architecture and building material both have their own characteristics. Reed attracts
constant interest. It ages beautifully and you can sense the passing of time from it. Reed
building is also a space experience due to the feel of reed as a material, its flexibility and its
texture, which allow numerous uses.

59
 Photos: Tiia Tilus

The reed chapel in the enclosed pictures is a practical space planning project and part of my
Masters Degree at the University of Art and Design, Helsinki. The aim was to construct a
proposal for the chapel and its users. The chapel is located on an artificial pier. Access to the
chapel is provided by a bridge. The bridge connects the chapel and the mainland and leads
the visitor from common space to private space. The chapel obtains its identity from the
tastefully changing seasons. Common reed has been used both as the manifest interior, and
exterior building material. The main aim is that the chapel provides its visitor with various
experiences: architectural, material, social and cultural.

Tiia Tilus, MA Spatial and Furniture Design

University of Art and Design, Helsinki

61
63
R E E D C A N A R Y G R A S S S H E L T E R
66
Elena Imarisio, Marco Mensa ja Francesco Strocchio

REED CANARY GRASS SHELTER

 350 100

700

SHELTER, plan SHELTER, plan

PLAYING WITH SHAPES PLAYING WITH SHAPES , plan

SHELTER, front

The shelter plan was created as a project work by three Italian architecture students
and it is part of the exchange students design expertise study module at the Turku University
of Applied Sciences. The garden shelter was designed for the smoke sauna on the Kavalto
estate. The shelter plan was created during the students visit to Lapland. The circular area
reserved for the garden shelter brought forth the idea to use similar shaped floor construction.
The protective shelter is formed of a hexagonal wooden structure with a reed canary grass
roof. The shelter hangs from the surrounding trees. The geometrical play is completed with the
furniture, where four small square tables create a bigger square.

Elena Imarisio, Marco Mensa and Francesco Strocchio, architect students, Polytechnic
University of Turin.

69
72
REED CANARY GRASS
Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is a perennial grass that forms thick and lasting
growths. It has a tough stem and relatively large blades. It is predominantly 1.5-1.9 m tall,
depending on the habitat circumstances, but some individual stems can reach over two metres
in height. During the seeding year it remains substantially shorter, usually just 60-80 cm, even
in the best of habitats. The rootstocks of reed canary grass stay relatively close to the surface
in a depth of less than 15 cm. The individual roots reach depths of more than a metre, like
those of other grasses. The roots are not known to block up underdrains. The natural growth
zone of reed canary grass encompasses almost whole of the northern hemisphere and it is
also a common wild grass in Finland. Its area of distribution extends all the way to Lapland.
The natural habitats of reed canary grass include the margins of lakes and streams, trench
banks and wetlands. During its seeding year reed canary grass is quite prone to competition
and drought, but after surviving the first year it is able to compete, and as a hardy plant it
endures drought and floods quite well.

Mikko Aalto, project manager

http://www.mtt.fi

73
R E E D R O O F E D R E S I D E N T I A L A R E A
76
Maria Corominas

REED ROOFED RESIDENTIAL AREA

78
 Drawing:
Maria Corominas

The reed roofed residential area at Salos Rauvola district commissioned by Reed
Strategy in Finland and Estonia project, was designed during the summer of 2007. The
residential area is located by the Halikko Bay, just a short drive from the centre of Salo. The
area is a valley-like strip of farmland, approximately 15 hectares in surface area, defined by a
deciduous forest and seashore in the west and by an old farm and Merikulmantie in the east.
The area is part of the beautiful cultural environment along the Salo-Teijo hiking trail.

The design of Rauvolas Merihopea building project derives from local materials: reed, willow
and clay. The research made from Halikko bay cane-grass reveals that the reed growing in
front of the designed area is well suited for construction material. The abundant cane-grasses
lining the sea shore offer excellent thatching materials after a few mowing years. The cane
harvest of the first years can be used as a soil enrichment agent for gardens, creating
landmarks for the area and for the heat insulation of buildings. The roof constructed from
straight reed of uniform quality is a durable water and heat insulator.

Before the construction, willow will be planted in the area. In special workshops willow is used
to weave fences and lattices for screening the windows and entrances and lathing in the
faades. Later on the willow thicket will form an injection area for gray and storm waters. Clay
is used to plaster the walls of reed insulated walls.

In the design the buildings of Merihopea are placed in a ribbon following the terrain. The
residential buildings form three individual courtyards and a common yard, and a village square
between them. Villa Ruoko type houses surround the courtyards on the mainland side and
small Keskissa courtyard buildings on the beach side. Coutyard buildings function as guest
houses, work spaces or summer cottages for the residents.
 Base element

Free-form living room element

Drawings: Maria Corominas

Connecting the living room element

In each courtyard, there is a common cellar for the residents. The courtyard is also used to
grow useful plants: apple trees and berry bushes. The residents have access to garden plots
and greenhouses.

A village house including a small clubroom and a laundry is situated in the common yard.
Individual courtyards also include playgrounds for the children, storage for sports gear and
other movables, and sauna buildings. In addition to a changing room, a washroom and a
steam room the sauna buildings include a fireplace room and a wooden tub on the terrace
outside. Residents can also use the beach side sauna, a boat quay and a communal boat. Villa
Ruoko is a wood framed and reed roofed type house that combines familiar solutions for
Finnish constructors, natural materials, prefabrication techniques and handicraft.

Villa Ruoko has a ridge roofed base element and a customer picked and placed extension
element that can also be built later. The base element is closed on the street and northern
side, but opens into the courtyard and south with large windows. Reed roof is inclined by 45
and because of that it has space on two floors. The second floor has a living area of
approximately 50 % of the ground floor. Floor design is adaptable and it can be individualized
according to the customers preferences. The resident can choose the size of house according
to his or her specific needs and lifestyle.

Villa Ruoko conserves energy by using solar energy both passively and actively. Large
windows directed south and a masonry cutoff wall in living and corridor spaces absorb heat
during the day and deliver it later into the indoor air. A heat recovery system is built into the
ventilation of the buildings and solar energy is used to heat water. Solar panels produce water
during approximately 9 months each year. Ground heat integrated floor heating is the heating
system of choice for the buildings. Heating expenses are also reduced by the moderate size
of the apartments: compact during winter and loosely during summer, when the courtyard
buildings are in use.

Maria Corominas, architecture student, Helsinki University of Technology

81
 Keskissa drawings: Maria Corominas

82
 Cellar

Storage

Playground
Village hall
Sauna
Village square,
sand field

Common yard for

games and leisure

Photos: Maria Corominas

Halikko
Bay

Rauvola
Reed Shore

83
R E E D E L E M E N T S
88
Rauli Lautkankare

REED AS BUILDING MATERIAL

 The use of reed and other natural materials in construction and the developments in the
related construction and production engineering have been limited by a lack of knowledge,
because the building tradition for several methods has been lost. The golden age for the use
of natural materials is dated to the first half of the 20th century. Based on long-term experience,
most of the natural materials have a very low environmental load and the buildings constructed
using them have been durable and healthy.

Reed is distributed worldwide and is one of the oldest roofing materials. Due to its abundance
and good durability, reed has maintained its position as alternative roofing and insulating
material. In some developed countries reed roof has become a status symbol, communicating
prosperity and the need to stand out or to be ecological. Straw thatching is still used widely in
traditional construction, in developing countries, and usually in countries with low cost labour
and available straw vegetation.

For its mechanical strength, reed is well suited as both roofing and insulating material. It is
known to withstand moisture, temperature changes, UV radiation, snow, ice and storms well.
The long life of reed roofs speaks for itself. In the 1943 RT card its life span was said to be
40-70 years. However, the roof needs regular maintenance and repairs. Annual inspections
and taking measures accordingly ensures the long life of the roof.

The thermal insulation capacity of reed is good. When designing thermal insulation, a thermal
conductivity of 0,055-0,075 W/mK can be used. The appropriate design value needs to be
adjusted according to the density of the reed and the potential persistent moisture of the
structure. For example, the outer 100 mm layer of the roof is thinner and less insulating when
wet, compared with the lower layers.

Photo: Building Information Ltd. Building Information Foundation 2002. RT-files 1943_1960.

90
The aspiration in the design of structures is to design the water vapour permeability so that no
dew points are formed within the structures. As the dew point is exceeded, the water vapour
condensates on an outer insulating layer. As a guideline, the water vapour permeability should
increase towards the outer surface of the structure. The water vapour resistance of reed is
extremely small. Partly because of this reed is also well suited for the outermost layer of
structures-, like roofs. The layer beneath the reed can either be a ventilation layer or
unventilated. Ventilation enhances drying and extends the lifetime, but on the other hand the
reed layer outside a ventilation layer cannot be taken into account when designing the thermal
insulation. Due to its good thermal insulation capacity and water vapour permeability, reed can
also be used as an additional thermal insulation layer outside of a log wall. This keeps the logs
warm throughout the winters without hindering its breathing.

Reed is used in walls both as a supplementary element in beam structures or as one of the
constituents in walling blocks. The most common application in use, is prefabricated reed
panels. Reed panels are best known with their trade name Berger-panel. Panels are
industrially fabricated e.g. in Estonia. The most common dimensions are 2000 x 600 x 50 mm
(length x width x thickness). The machine is usually hand-fed with reed at a slow pace. The
reed is then compressed and knitted with stainless steel wire into dense panels. There are
usually four rows of wire with a spacing of 120 mm in a 600 mm wide panel. The required
quality of reed used to manufacture panels is lower than what is required for reed roofs. The
diameter and length of the straw can vary more, because the knitting compresses the straws
so much that they arent left intact at the binding spot. A side cutter cuts the panels into the
correct length. The surplus bits of reed fall into a bin under the line and are bagged. The bits,
or reed granulates, are sold to flower gardens or garden centres to be resold e.g. for
flowerbeds or landscaping purposes.

Industrial fabrication of
Berger-panels in Estonia.

Photo (left):
Hartwig Reuter

Photo (right):
Rauli Lautkankare

In Finland Berger-machines have been used at least in Porvoo at Sarlin machine shop
1938-1944 (Heuru, Lundsten & Westermarck 1998, 35). Panels were produced as 1200-1500
mm wide and 2600-3000 mm long. The density was approximately 240 kg/m3 and the width
50 mm. In Sarlins brochure, the thermal conductivity value was listed as 0.045 W/mK, which
is eight times smaller than that of brick (Sarlin 1938, 9). Panels have been used for thermal
insulation, soundproofing and as interior wall e.g. in Stenberg House in Helsinki.

91
 Reed insulated wall and floor
element created by Harwig Reuter.

Photo: Sami Lyytinen

Right:
Reed chaff used to improve
the lightness and insulation
properties of reed blocks.

Photo: Tatu Toivonen

The use of natural materials as construction materials in Germany has been reported in
German FNRs (2006) publication. The qualities, manufacturers, resellers and model sites of
more than ten different natural materials have been collected into the publication. Reed
carpets or panels can be used outside the frame as lathing. A panel or carpet is mechanically
attached to the frame with a nail panel. If the panel has lots of straws or inflorescences sticking
out, they can be burned with a blowpipe burner before plastering. Panels can also be used as
insulating elements between the frame columns. Reed panels help with soundproofing as well
as heat insulation, so it is well suited for both outer and dividing walls and intermediate floors.

Reed elements are reed insulated wall and floor elements created by architect Hartwig Reuter
that can be superposed to achieve the desired insulation factor. In a single element there is
100 mm thickness of full width reed. The width of the element is generally 600 mm and its
height is determined by the room height. The elements thermal conductivity value was
measured as 0.066 W/mK in the building laboratory at the Turku University of Applied
Sciences. To achieve the U-value of an exterior wall there should be about 250 mm of reed.
This is easiest to achieve by using two elements with a 125 mm frame, also making the
frames load bearing good.

92 xx
 The use of reed in walling blocks has been investigated by Tatu Toivonen in his thesis among
others. However, a block made completely of reed hasnt got adequate bearing capacity and
on the other hand a block made completely of cement or clay doesnt have thermal insulation
capacity, is heavy, cracks too easily much and is often expensive. From these starting points,
an investigation was performed to find an alternative, where both substances were combined
in the right ratio. A certain amount of fibrous reed chaff or clipping lightens the block, improves
its thermal insulation capacity and reduces cracking. Mostly the same substances as in
plastering are used as the cementing agent: cement, lime or clay. The use of clay is advocated
because of its affordability and environment-friendliness. Blocks cast in moulds have a lively
surface and the cementing agent makes them incombustible. In tests related to Toivonens
thesis, a reed/clay block was flamed for 90 minutes. This created only a 5 mm layer of charring
on the surface, so the fire didnt spread significantly.

A building will be completed in Pargas, where the space between sturdy log poles is filled with
reed/clay/lightweight aggregate mass. The name of the building built by Thomas Commondt
for himself is Villa Hyrylinna (Steamkeep).

In horizontal structures, reed can be used as granulate, elements, panels, bales or bundles.
Reed granulates or reed clippings can be used as an insulating material between the
framework in the base or intermediate floor or roof. The length of clippings can vary from
approximately two to six centimetres. The insulating capacity of granulate isnt at the same
level as tightly compressed panels, because in granulate the airspace between reed straws is
relatively large, creating convection flow that weakens the insulating capacity. Because of this,
the thickness of the insulating layer has to be increased to achieve the required thermal
insulation capacity.

94 93
Reed block after 90 minutes flaming.
Photo: Jani Sintonen

95
 Floor plan, sectional drawing and elevation drawing of Villa Hyrylinna.
Architect Petri Leppl.

Technical room

Bedroom

Living room
Cold storage

Entrance Kitchen

Ground floor

96 xx
 Pavillion
Water tank

Study

Storage

First floor Roof and pavillion

Pavillion

Study Storage Water tank Study

Cold
storage

Porch Living room Living room Entrance Technical room Bedroom Kitchen

Cross section A-A Cross section B-B Cross section C-C

East elevation West elevation

North elevation South elevation

97
 Reed granulates are usually emptied from bags into the space to be filled. By packing, the
mass is compressed so that no significant settlement occurs afterwards. Sawdust can be
added to the reed to improve its density. In the insulation measurements performed in the
building laboratory at the Turku University of Applied Sciences the reed-sawdust achieved a
thermal conductivity of 0.072 W/mK. The weaker thermal insulation capacity, when compared
with reed filling is due to a looser installation. Nevertheless, the capacity is approximately one
half better than that of log.

It could be also possible to install small reed bits like mineral wool or blown with mineral wool.
Due to the compression of the insulating layer, a slightly thicker layer than the designed one
can be blown during installation when the roof is being insulated. On walls no compression of
insulating material is allowed to happen, because of the free airspace that would be created
beneath windows and beams.

It is known that Reed bales are also used to insulate the spaces between the roof and base
floor supporters. One example of this is architect Hartwig Reuters house in Jyvskyl. The
bales in question have been used as insulating material for approximately three years in a
wooden house that's over one hundred years old. In bales, the reed is compressed tightly in a
baling machine. Also the compactness of reed is an advantage of bales, reducing the size of
air voids and the air flow to improve the insulating efficiency. The bales can also be walked on
without compressing the insulating material significantly.

The aforementioned elements can also be used in floors as well as walls. The width of the
element is 600 mm and the length is determined by its carrying capacity. When installed on
top of separate wooden supporters, the length of the element can be as long as desired. To
achieve the U-value of a ventilated base floor there should be altogether 300 mm of reed in
the elements. This is achieved by using either three elements with 100 mm of insulating
material or two with 150 mm of insulating material.

Reed is by far used the most as bundles or thatching material. As a thatching material, it is
also highly distinguishable in its distinctiveness. Well made roofs are known to last 50-100
years.

Reed used as thatching material should be clean, 1.2-1.8 m long and have a diameter of 3-6
mm. The recommended minimum roof slope is 45 degrees. Water flows down faster from
steep roofs, which in turn makes the roof dry faster, and thus endure longer.

98 96
Implementing special items such as roof saddles, mitre boxes, garret windows, chimneys and
through holes requires accuracy from both the designer and builder. Annual inspections and
performing the maintenance and repair operations required by them, guarantees a long life
span.

The longevity of the structures can be influenced by fairly simple measures that often wont
affect the price. Geographical location, topography and compass points affect the rain, wind
and UV-radiation figures which affect the building. Vegetation right next to the building, leaves
and twigs falling from trees, causes wetting and mossing on the surface of the structures.
Moss can easily be mechanically removed from reed roof by brushing. Also the quality of
material and workmanship, the expertise of the builder, and the roof slope greatly affect the
longevity of a reed roof.

The details of roofs have traditionally varied from country to country and province to province.
Nowadays, on the south side of the Baltic Sea all kinds of structures and buildings for many
different purposes are being built from reed. Reed has been used to roof holiday homes,
carports, courtyard buildings, restaurants, blocks of flats, civic buildings, one-family houses
and whole residential areas. Changing roof saddle types, knitting methods and gables evoke
unique implementations. Reed bends well into mitre boxes and curved details. Precision is
required to realize details, and the longevity of roof greatly depends on the finishing expertise
of the master roofer. However, the product has become so common for example in Germany,
Denmark and Netherlands that new roofs are built by the hundreds each year. Roof societies
promote research and development e.g. in the fire testing and classification of reed.

One fact which reflects the popularity and markets of reed construction is the amount of the
reed being cut. In the Netherlands 6-7 million and in Denmark 2.5 million bundles of reed are
gathered each year for construction purposes. In Sweden and Norway, the builders are mainly
Danish master roofers. In Germany 1 million and in Estonia 0.8-1.5 million bundles are
gathered each year.

Reed straws
used as insulating
material in
horizontal structures.

Photo: Sami Lyytinen

99
 Regarding recent research and development in the fire safety of reed roofs, an Estonian
EE-card issued in 2006 should be mentioned. It describes by examples the most common
methods of implementing reed structures. Full scale fire tests to create a fire classification for
reed as construction material, and the use of solid wood panels as the substructure of a reed
roof has been researched in the Lbeck University of Applied Sciences. In Denmark, a reed
roof society cooperates with insulator manufacturer Rockwool, plaster board manufacturer
Gyproc, and insurance company Topdanmark to find fire resistant structural solutions. In
addition to the Estonian instruction card The Fire Safety of Reed Roofs , there are national
directives and codes in the reed construction directives of some German states and in the so
called Dorset model of England. In Denmark, a reed roof construction directive Taekkevejledning
is in use.

In the part E1 The Fire safety of buildings of the Finnish building code the essential requirements
that should be used in construction are laid out. These fire safety circumstances could be laid
out as follows according to my understanding:

1. Adequate distance to the border and other buildings. It is recommended that the
distance to the plot border is at least 12 metres and to other buildings on the same plot at
least 15 metres.

2. The height of the chimney should be over 1.5 metres from the roof saddle. If the
chimney is on the face of the roof, add 0.1 metres to the dimensions of the chimney for
each face metre of the roof as measured from the saddle.

3. To prevent ignition and restrict the spreading of fire certain structural solutions, extinguisher
systems, fire retardants or a combination of these should be used. For structural protection,
plastering, gypsum boarding, the using of non-flammable rock wool or using heat resistant
woven glass cloth as roof covering sheeting, should be considered. Relaxations for
aforementioned distances in sections 1 and 2 could be obtained provided adequate
protective materials and substances are used.

4. Relaxations for aforementioned distances in sections 1 and 2 could be obtained

provided an automatic extinguishing system is used.

5. Relaxations for aforementioned distances in Section 1 could be obtained provided an

automatic fire detector is used.

100 xx
 Common reed decorating the view in central Hamburg. Photo: Juha Kri

Using reed as thermal insulation within elements doesnt require fire classification in
single-family houses, making reed well suited as is for these purposes. However using reed
panels in the faade surface usually requires fire retardant treatment plastering or boarding.

It's just a matter of time before reed becomes a generally accepted roof and construction
material with a widespread use in Finland. Fire safety or other constructional obstacles are
modifiable. Marketing and making the product known are the most important challenges. Reed
has been traditionally used as a construction material for hundreds of years in many European
countries and it is an equally suitable construction material in Finland.

Rauli Lautkankare, laboratory engineer, Turku University of Applied Sciences

101
R E E D C O N S T R U C T I O N W O R K
104
Sari Sjroos

EXPERTISE IN REED CONSTRUCTION

_
AN INTERVIEW OF HARTWIG REUTER
 If Hartwig is asked
something about reed,
an exhaustive answer is
certain!

Photo:
Juha Kri

Hartwig Reuter, an architect, an inventor, a common reed entrepreneur and expert, and
a life cycle theorist, was born in North Germany in 1935 and came by bicycle from Germany
through Norway and Sweden to Finland in 1954. The exchange students journey halted when
his bicycle broke down. He started a family and stayed permanently in Jyvskyl in 1961.

Hartwig observed reed to be a common plant on our shores. Elsewhere in Europe reed had
been used for a time long, and was still used as a construction material in general, and
especially in roof covering. Along with intensive farming, our shores had been grown over by
reed, because of nutrients leaking from the fields into the waters. Removing reed by dredging
is expensive and the advantages of the material were not understood in Finland. Thus, in
Finland a good construction material was ending up as waste. In the mean time, the demand
for reed elsewhere in Europe surpasses the supply.

106
In 2000, together with his friends interested in reed construction, Cooperative Society Kaanee,
with the goal to advance reed construction and to create its own reed construction tradition.
The best of European reed construction techniques, adapted to the demanding and variable
climate, are used in Finnish reed construction. Kaanee is an old Hebrew reed measurement
that corresponds to six cubits or approximately 3 metres.

According to Hartwigs knowledge reed construction arrived in Finland by sea during the
bronze age by sea. By the coast it was reasonable to build with easily available material_ reed.
The buildings at that time were shaped like upturned boat hulls. Standing room was increased
by digging a foxhole under the roof. In the 19th century Finland, reed was used mostly in the
roofs of sheds and cowsheds. Roofs were constructed with a pressing method. With this
method, the life span of a reed roof was merely ten years. By tying the reeds the roofs endured
significantly longer; for example the oldest reed roofs in Estonia are over one hundred years
old. Reed roofed ancillary buildings were constructed in Finland until 1930s.

Berger panel manufacturing from reed began in Finland in 1935, when an Austrian Mr. Berger
brought to Finland via Sweden a simple machine he had developed to compress reed into
dense enough (180 kg/m2) elements for the insulation requirements of the North. This degree
of compaction also improves the fire safety. In Hartwig Reuters fire tests a Berger panel didnt
catch fire even when burned with a gas burner. Before the wars the Sarlin brothers produced
Berger panels. The panels were in high demand during the war when German soldiers built
from out of them in the North. The machine disappeared after the war. At that time, the
insulation techniques of buildings were anyway revolutionized. Presently, the Berger panel
machine is located in Estonia.

The reed used in Berger panels is too short or otherwise of too poor a quality to be used as
roofing material. The bundles are stapled tight with steel wires, thus bringing out the good,
breathing and non-toxic insulating properties of reed. The compression also reduces the
fire-sensitivity of reed. A panel is 20 or 50 mm thick and 600x2000 mm by other dimensions,
allowing it to be easily carried by a single man. The panel can be installed as frost insulation
into the ground and as thermal insulation into walls and roof. The Berger panel requires a
supporting framework, which the panels can be attached to. Panels can be installed one upon
the other according to the required insulation properties and the building project.

107
 Here in the North wall insulation thickness of mineral wool is 20 cm according to
guidelines. Equivalent thermal insulation is achieved by a 25 cm layer of compact (min.
180 kg/m2) reed states Hartwig.

The thermal insulation can be constructed with Berger panels or with reed elements
assembled by hand developed by Hartwig. He knows that in the Artist Hannes Auteres house
near Saarijrvi there are 2x50 mm Berger panels as thermal insulation. The panels are
attached to the two-by-fours between them. The house was built in 1941 and it is still
inhabited.

Just by this experience alone reed insulation could be given a 60-year warranty, laughs
Hartwig. Berger panels can also function as an excellent lathing for cement, lime, and
naturally for clay plastering. The surface plastering of clay can also be dyed. The result is
magnificent!

Photos:
Hartwig Reuter

Cold plastering is also easy to realize on the outer surface of the building: The same panel
insulates and functions as a lathing. Renewing the 1943 issued RT-card for reed roofing
would, according to Hartwig, be extremely important in order to take into account the
possibilities of reed construction. The information hasnt changed, but there is more of it.

We could use the German model to our advantage, proposes Hartwig. In Germany
there are exact guidelines for the construction of reed roofs and of the local utilized styles.
Also the fire safety issues have been modernized. In Finland reed hasnt been registered
as a construction material.

108
As a reed constructor and environmental enthusiast Hartwig has paid particular attention to
the state of our shores and the required management measures. Along with intensified
agriculture and forest economy, rapidly soluble nutrients have flown for decades with rain
waters from fields and forests, which has increased the growth of common reed significantly.

During winters, Hartwig has mowed reed from shores for eight years with an Italian
self-bundling light mower. The results have simply been for the benefit and pleasure of people
and nature, when the landscape and odour discomforts have been reduced.

Hartwig has built winter harvesters suitable for Finnish conditions by combining parts from
various machines.
Harvesting is handy from a good reed field, tells Hartwig. Three men, one driving the
machine and two pre-hauling the bundles, are required to operate one machine.

The cruising speed of the machine is 2.5-15 km/h and the width of the cutting blade is 150 cm.
Hartwig also handily created a manually operated harvesting pusher by cutting the front of a
snow pusher into a v-shape and installing a blade on it. Harvesting on even thinner shore ice
goes easily and comfortably while performing a light functional training.

After just a couple of years of regular winter harvest the reed starts to be usable
construction material as old upright dead half rotten reed no longer weakens the quality.
In a reed bed managed by winter harvests the cutting depth is optimal, Hartwig tells. The
cut ends of reed remain above the ice surface, thus obtaining oxygen and preventing the
rootstock from suffocating..

Nutrients that have escaped from the fields and nourishing reed should be returned to the field with mulch and
soil improvement applications. Thus, even clay fields become looser. Reed is an annually renewing natural
resource and theres plenty of it in Finland! Therefore, those who maintain a reed field should be eligible
for agricultural subsidy, Hartwig states. Photo: Ulla Anttola

109
 Right. Reed cutoff wall. Photo: Juha Kri

Common reed thrives in nutritious water. Roots of reed give oxygen to bottom sediments,
enabling aerobic biodegradation, while absorbing nutrients from bottom sediments. Reed
doesnt produce nutrients into water systems, rather the nutrients returned from growth return
to roots. This prevents the disadvantages of eutrophication and the lack of oxygen at the
bottom, and foetid and bubbling methane releases. Thus, the winter harvest of a reed field
cleans water systems.

Reed is the most silent excavator in the world, sums Hartwig up.

Instead of ending up as waste, Hartwig thinks the primary use for the material could be
construction. Roofs require quality material, which is screened mostly by hand. Only in the
Netherlands is the bunching and screening mechanized. Reed of poorer quality and shorter
length is fit for insulating. In Germany reed chaff has also been used to compress panels, even
for export. Of the biomass of reed 20% is minerals and 80% is air.

Stagnant air within the cane insulates better than the air around the cane. Cane shouldnt
be broken when using the reed in thermal insulation to achieve the best possible results,
Hartwig points out.

Hartwigs residence in Jyvskyls Rauhanniemi has a magnificent view by a river. The area
is known to have had a very old settlement. When arriving at the estate, some of the handiwork
of the genius inventor can be seen in the courtyard. In the yard there are reed bale chairs, on
the walls reed cover experiments, various reed construction elements in sheds, clay-reed
insulating compositions, traces of fire tests, a harvester, and other bits and pieces beyond the
comprehension of a layman.

110

The logs are of age and size groups that cannot be found anymore,
Hartwig Reuter grins while showing the insides of his house.

Photo: Sami Lyytinen

112
 According to Hartwig this 400 square metre house is approximately 250 years old. The house
is decorated with old furniture.

The logs are of age and size groups that cannot be found in any forests of Europe
anymore,

Hartwig grins while showing the inside of his house. He is reconditioning the house at the
moment, with a goal to get all of the old structures into view as a valuable legacy for the future
generations.

Hartwig has removed the old and too weak floor insulation, made mainly from clay and straw,
from the upper floor. He is insulating the floor with self developed reed bales.

The baling machine needed some fixing to get the reeds parallel, tells Hartwig.

When the reed is vertical in the floor in as compact bales as possible, the floor gains some
load bearing capacity from them alone and then the boards just go on top of them,
Hartwig boasts while walking on top of reed bales.

The smaller house on the estate is occupied by Hartwigs son. The walls have been insulated
and straightened with reed, and on the interior walls there is clay plastering on the reed.

Dry clay plastering breathes: it absorbs moisture from the room and then conveys it back.
That way indoor air is naturally balanced, explains Hartwig.

The outermost clay plastering layer has been dyed by Hartwig with traditional pigments. The
kitchen wall got a magnificent warm tint from earth red, and the living room wall was plastered
into a softer and lighter shade with yellow ochre. Resourcefulness and good advice were
needed again when Hartwig noticed that the wall was shedding pigment. Researcher and
traditional painter Outi Tuomela knew to encourage trying milk coating.

I sprayed skimmed milk on the walls. Three days later it smelled awful, but after that the
odour was gone and the colour stayed, Hartwig told.

Reed decays very little thanks to its mineral concentration and silicic acid. Even in moist
spaces reed clay insulating plastering like this is durable and mold resistant! Wet clay is
also easy to shape, Hartwig reminds.

114

When reeds are in the floor
vertically and in tight bales
the floor gains carrying
capacity from them alone
just put the planks

on top of them,
boasts Hartwig.
Photo: Hartwig Reuter

Only your imagination is the limit in reed and clay construction. Shapability of the reed roof is
of the top class among roofing materials!

Fire safety issues have been a specific experimentation subject. Hartwig has performed, and
been involved in fire tests for elements of varying shapes and composition. In the tests they
have tried to burn a small reed roof, reed chaff/clay composition, Berger panels and panicles.
The elements dont burn particularly well, especially when the reed is tightly compres-
sed, sums Hartwig up.

Reed harvested during late winter is mainly air and minerals, of which silica forms a signi-
ficant portion.

Silica is a fire retardant, like the cheap boric acid, which Hartwig knows to be harmful and is
often used by the industry. Cellulose insulation contains as much as 15-20 % of boric acid.
The reed granulate/clay/cellulose composite developed by Hartwig would, according to him,
contain the natural fire retardant of reeds. Industry could also take these properties of reed
into account as the reduction of chemicals in environment is a clear goal within the EU. Reed
granulate also functions as a stabilizing medium for cellulose insulation and the insulating
material will not shrink nor contract, like pure cellulose insulation.

Because reed is an unclassified construction material the permits require unusual

procedures. The local fire chief must first be convinced by adequate data of the experi-
ments and experiences preferably well illustrated. The rest is at the mercy of chemistry
and the attitudes of local officials, tells Hartwig of his experiences.

115
 Founding our own reed roof identity is according to Hartwig the biggest challenge for Finns.
The reed used for roofs must be of the best quality for the roof to endure. Reed has to be at
least man high and of uniform quality. Bundles are tied tightly by hand tightly with two strings
using a simple but handy machine. The durability is increased by a 45-degree roof slope. The
roof is built by hand. Development of a reed roof sprinkler used to increase fire safety is only
just starting.

Water is led from below to the roof as naturally as possible. It should not freeze on its way.
Fire must be controlled with natural materials and not with chemicals. Roof saddle must
be designed accordingly: brick, copper, reflects Hartwig.

In 2003, Hartwig acted as an architect when a barbecue shelter was built in Oittilankyl at
Korpilahti, and at the same time forwarded valuable information to locals about the
construction methods of a reed roof. Due to fire safety, the underside of the shelter was
plastered. Noting attaches to the reed easily because of its glossy surface. Now the barbecue
shelter serves the villagers as a recreational facility beautifully suitable for the terrain. Not even
a strong storm can cause the silent reed roof to make noise.

Hartwig says that reed bundles are also sought after goods in Central Europe, like in Germany,
Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where reed construction, especially in
thatching, has beena tradition for a long time. Elsewhere in Europe there are several villages,
where all the buildings are built with natural materials including a reed roof. However, good
reed does not grow in Central Europe even for local use. Common reed thrives only on fresh
water coastal areas and brackish water coasts and shoals.

The Baltic Sea, including the Gulf of Finland, is brackish water, and Finland is The Land
of the Thousands Lakes, sums up Hartwig with a glint in his eye.

You can profit even with pleasant winter tasks and functional training. The standardized
price of Estonia for European markets is 2-3 /bundle.

Right: The clay plastered surface of a kitchen wall obtained a beautiful warm tone from mould.
Photo: Sari Sjroos

116
U N D E R A R E E D R O O F
120
Heidi Paananen

USKO AND TAINA PAANANEN

_ TALK ABOUT LIVING IN A REED HOUSE
 Photos: Sami Lyytinen

At Muurasjrvi in Pihtipudas there is a house that is sure to catch the eye of any
passers-by. The villagers joke about the high building with a reed roof by asking

have they built a new church in the village?.

The building which resembles the thatched houses in Estonia and Central Europe fits in well
with the scenery, but did the builder only have an ambition to try something new and exotic? The
story behind the building project is longer than one might think at first glance.

It really started from my being involved with shore plans in the County
Administration and the Environment Centre. Visiting many shore areas, one
could very often hear complaints from farmers and landowners that `the shores
used to be so open and clean, and now they are all covered with reed beds.
Well, thats what the situation was like about ten years ago in Kannonkoski, if my
memory serves me well. Talking to the old-timers, we were wondering why
nobody can come up with any sensible use for the reed. It is being so plentiful,
and unemployment is a problem everywhere, and ideas for relief work should be
found, so why couldnt somebody try this? Then I thought, why not try it myself?
Why should I wait for somebody else to do it?

For a do-it-yourself reed-roofer, it was difficult to get started. The first object was the roof of a
smoke sauna. The instructions for old thatches were the best guide to be found for making a
reed roof. After following those instructions, with no help from experts, the builder was not
highly satisfied with the first result.
 Well, the reeds were very thick and curved, so they were not very well suited for the
purpose. And the roof- it was such a muddle, I wondered how a roof can be so ugly. Lets
say that if my first roof was worth five points out of ten, the second one was worth six.

When building a roof for a barn a couple of years later, they had found some learning from
Estonia, but the results were still not very encouraging. The roof turned out more beautiful
than the previous one, but still it did not correspond to the notion of roofs seen in the neigh-
boring country.

But then, of course, my need for reed kept growing, so I thought its really odd if one
cannot learn such a simple thing.

The next project was a residential building where the roof solution was a dilemma: would the
reed roof turn out so well that it could be used for roofing a real house? The encouragement
was found when the Finnish reed pioneer met an Estonian roof master, Mihkel Ling, who
promised to run the project.

The reed used for construction material must be thin and straight. Reed of good quality grows
when the reed bed has been cut for a couple of years. The new reed can grow straight and
thin-walled when it does not have to wind its way towards daylight through old, decomposed
growth. Though the Finnish coastlines are largely covered by wide reed beds, the reeds for the
roof of the house in Muurasjrvi had to be brought from Saaremaa island in Estonia.

Many practical matters, like work permits and forwarding, posed a challenge before the reeds
and the builders were in Pihtipudas. Also the customs caused some problems: Which product
group does reed belong to? In 2003, when Estonia was not a member state of the EU, and the
exchange rates were more favourable, the total budget for the roof, including accommodation
and meals of the workers, was about 17 000 euros, which means about 65 euros per square
meter.

The group of three Estonian workers spent about two weeks in the roof project of 260 square
meters. The four round-headed windows took a lions share of the time because they included
a lot of carpentry work. The roof project attracted a lot of attention, but only the real reed
professionals except for the roofwetting party had access to the roof.

123
 Making a reed roof is such a demanding job that when the roof of Tuulentupa was built
by the Estonians, I didnt let the Finnish guys get up on the roof at all- remembering the
earlier works, the smoke sauna in Laukaa and the barn in Muurasjrvi. It was so difficult.
There was no room for failure, none at all.

At the same time, under the guidance of the master, the roof of a woodshed also being built
in the grounds, where the curious and studious had a chance to try the techniques of piling and
binding the reeds. The barn roof was made of reed gathered in Muurasjrvi.

At Muurasjrvi in Pihtipudas there is a house that is sure to catch the eye of any passers-by.
The villagers joke about the high building with a reed roof: have they built a new church in the village?.
Photo: Sami Lyytinen

In Tuulentupa, as the house is called by the name of the old cottage on the same site, reed
has not been used in the roof only. Upon the diagonal boarding of the walls there is a Berger
reed panel, made in Germany of Hungarian reed, which is covered with plaster. The house
has a traditional, ventilated wooden base floor with 200 mm of reed on the bottom.

124
Reed is also used in the treatment of waste waters: the reed blankets around the absorption
pipes are replaced in fixed periods, and the old ones are used for soil improvement. Inside the
house reed is only in direct contact with indoor air in the food cellar in the basement. Despite
the bare reed surface, there are no particular smells etc. in the basement. Many guests have
suggested that the Berger panel should be on the outer wall, so that the reed surface would be
visible. However, the quality of the reed from Lake Balaton in Hungary is inferior compared to
e.g. the reeds brought from Estonia. In addition, all wires and other metals used in the fixing
and binding of the panel would also have remained visible. At the end, the house was covered
with traditional lime plaster which gets its colour from lime paint. Other alternatives were a.o.
reed or willow panels.

Photo: Juha Kri

The drawings of the house have been revised several times during the project. It is more than
ten meters from the ground to the ridge of the roof, because the reed roof rises at an angle of
45 degrees, according to the instructions. The actual living area of the floors is about 100
square meters, but including the low, sloping areas under the roof structures, the total area is
about 170 square meters on four levels. The use of reed has enticed innovative design and
planning, and made the building of an octagonal house possible. According to the builder, it
would have been more difficult to build a rectangular house.

125
 The upper floor of Paananens house is given an individual character by the four round-headed windows,
which are very deep due to the thickness of the roof. Photo: Juha Kri

Reed gives freedom to the planning, like this roof, it gives a freedom of design. It would
be awfully difficult to make of bricks or sheet metal, a horrible waste of material. So in this
sense its a cheap material.

Tuulentupa has been an inspirational object for professionals of different fields. The special
features of the house have challenged the carpenters, smiths and window-makers to come up
with solutions that fit the spirit of the house.

The mason said that I saw in my dream how it should be done, to join the wood stove
with the fireplace and the air chimney. Do you think that could happen using ordinary plates?

The kitchen designer could not find piece of mind when looking for plates for the back of the
sink: as a result, the lady of the house sat down behind her loom and wove a reed mat, which
was placed on the wall under a glass plate. Many plans have been changed during the project
because of the slow and small-scale building work, which has made it possible to elaborate
the ideas and solutions in good time. On the other hand, it has been difficult to see in advance
what requirements the space will make.

126
The attitude of the authorities towards this unusual project has been positive and curious.
During the project, there have been many discussions with the building inspector, and he has
participated in finding the solutions. The chief fire officer was worried about the chimney swee-
ping arrangements, because getting up on the roof should be avoided. The solution was to
make sweeping possible from the inside by planning a soot hatch halfway up the chimney.

The aim of the reed house has been to combine traditional building methods with modern
technology: the ventilated wooden base floor is an old and familiar structure. The idea of
diagonal boarding to reinforce the framework has been borrowed from the veteran houses of
the 1950s. Lime paint and plastering are also old methods, while ground heating represents
modern technology. Being an ecological and natural material, reed offers a challenge for many
solutions and choices: the house is warmed up by ground heating, non-breathing materials
have been avoided, etc. There should be no place for mould in the reed house: in addition to
the ecological aspects, healthy living has been the second leading idea of the project. In his
working life the master of the house saw a large number of houses with problems which
caused causing bad health effects for the residents. Ecology has been considered by using
recycled materials, like old bricks. Old logs from the Viitasaari vicarage have been used in the
cellar roof, and doors from a railwaymens house in Hankasalmi have found a new life after
reconstruction.

A reed house is an innovation in Finland, liable to attract attention and, of course, also to rouse
prejudices. Peoples ideas of reed as a construction material are often linked with mud huts in
Africa, thatched backyard buildings, and the fairy-tale straw house that the wolf blew down.

Its sure to catch fire or fly away with the wind, anyway the rain will come through.

The owners often faced these kinds of assumptions, denying all of them, but generally spea-
king attitudes towards the house have been that of admiration. Many first comments are rather
child-like, regardless of the age of the speaker. A lot of people think that the roof looks soft,
like an animal, and they feel like touching it. It has also been compared to teddy bears or the
Moomin house.

127
 After some years of living, the house has proved to be quite functional, fitting in well with the
Finnish conditions. Despite its personal features, from the living point of view its still an
ordinary house. Some visitors have been almost disappointed: exotic expectations are met
with a rather ordinary, modern interior. The sound insulation of reed is very good, so quietness
is one of the first observations.

Its quiet in the rain and storm. No gale or roar can be heard, even if the wind is strong.
Hailstorms cannot be heard at all. The silence inside can be a bit weird. All the rustling
makes you ask: What was that? [Laughter.]

The height and the octagonal shape give some characteristics to the reed house. The interior
is well lit, but the long eaves keep excessive light away. The upper floor is decorated in all four
directions by the round-headed windows which are very deep because of the thick roof. The
height creates spaciousness and the sloping roofs make exciting nooks. The shape in itself is
unique; there are no dark corners in an octagonal house.

Air is abundant in the house, though only the stove and the bathroom are regulated by
mechanical ventilation. Otherwise the ventilation is based on natural gravitation. The indoor air
is pleasant: the house is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The ground heating pump
is complemented by the wood stove and the fireplace. Building fireplaces has not been a
problem because a reed roof does not catch fire very easily, though this is a common
misconception. There is a sauna in the house, but it has an electric stove. Joining the sauna
in the same chimney with the fireplace was impossible due to its location, and excessive
through holes in the thick roof were avoided.

The builder found a usage for reed which was the starting point for the whole project. Many
new ideas about utilizing reed have been invented during the project. Some of the ideas have
been tested in practice, like using reed for soaking waste waters in sparsely populated areas.
The owners have noticed that many visitors have been attracted by the idea of a healthier,
ecological and energy-saving way of living. For the builder himself, the project has been a
growth process and a long chain of innovations.

Heidi Paananen, Bachelor of Administrative Science, University of Tampere

128
Photo: Sami Lyytinen
In Conclusion

As a construction material common reed is versatile. The hard and durable straw is excellent
thatching material suitable for both residential buildings and outbuildings. Reed roofs
produced with expertise are beautiful, blend well into landscape, ecological and durable. The
air filled straw makes it usable as an insulating material in walls, roofs and floors. It can also
be used in construction as lathing, adhesive medium in blocks or insulating material, or even
as a building board suitable for earth moving. Still an unknown construction material, common
reed offers untold opportunities. Reed Strategy in Finland and Estonia project took on the
challenge to imprint these opportunities as a part of Finnish construction culture.

Throughout Europe, common reed is invariably becoming a more common construction material.
Aside from an ecological option, roofs made of reed are today also perceived as a kind of
luxury and status symbol. Other kinds of reed construction are also becoming more popular.
Reed suitable for construction material has a constantly increasing demand in Europe and
expert reed builders have plenty of work on construction sites in both countryside and urban
areas. Among more technical construction materials reed is an ever more equal competitor.
There is plenty of demand and its own gamut of professions has formed to take care for the
supply of material and services.

131
 Because of a lack of reed, it has never been a part of Finnish construction culture outside of
the archipelago and a narrow coastal zone in Ostrobothnia. However, grain straw has been a
quite common and comparable roofing material used in almost everywhere that grain has
been farmed. Since the early 20th century a long break started in reed and straw construction
tradition, during which the construction skills and memories from earlier thatched roofs mostly
disappeared. Not even the occasional construction trends from our southern neighbours could
help in keeping the reed construction tradition alive.

Right on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, in Estonia, the use of reed as a roofing
material has continued without interruptions to this day, allowing the expertise in roof
construction to stay alive. The Estonian reed construction expertise was an invaluable
resource throughout the duration of the Reed Strategy in Finland and Estonia project in
20052007. In cooperation with the project actors, the Estonian entrepreneurs came to show
examples of how reed is harvested with modern and efficient harvesters, and how the
harvested material is refined into roofing material. The harvesting events attracted a wide
range of media, thereby developing an interest for reed as a construction material in Finland.

As for the reed material, Finland is perceived as an attractive target by European reed
construction experts. Our wide reed beds are well suited for harvesting reed for construction,
and according to the European experts the quality of reed from northern regions is even better
for construction material than reed from southern regions. Some of the local entrepreneurs
have expressed their readiness to start harvesting reed in Finland, assuming large enough
areas can be assigned for them. In addition to the foreign enthusiasm, an initial enthusiasm
arose during the project also in Finland, when an entrepreneur from Turku decided to buy a
reed harvester and start operating it in Finland. The demand for material in Europe guarantees
a reasonable price through export, but as the entrepreneur offers reed roof construction
services also in Finland, the material might soon be used domestically.

132
In the courses arranged by the project and organized by Cursor Ltd. the Estonian
entrepreneurs ushered the Finns into to the secrets of constructing a reed roof. Courses
organized around our southern coast were filled with participants enthusiastic about reed
construction and the first lessons of reed roof construction sank into the minds of people. The
events that received extensive publicity also stimulated awakening demand. Assignments
related to reed construction were soon inquired of the project actors and Estonian
entrepreneurs.

During the project it was noted that despite the abundant briefing and demonstrations of reed
construction the prejudice against reed is deeply entrenched in the Finns. Reed is still
perceived as an obsolete and largely not suited for construction, or at least a worse option than
the more technical materials. People dont believe in the durability, fire resistance or the
waterproofness of reed. Therefore, more technical insulating materials are still considered a
safer solution. Regardless, it was a pleasure to observe the dispelling of prejudices against,
and awakening of faith for reed during the three-year project. When told about the properties
of reed, the people were ready to check their prejudices. Also the growing interest towards
more traditional construction with the general rise in environmental awareness and the
willingness to try something new and maybe even stand out made it easier for the project to
achieve its goal by increasing the utilization of reed.

The applicability of reed to the current Finnish building codes and its comparability to other
materials was worked out in the theses prepared in the Civil Engineering Department of the
Turku University of Applied Sciences related to the use of reed in construction. Also the
functionality of entirely new ideas for reed was examined. The attitude of students and staff to
a new and unknown construction material in Finland was delightfully enthusiastic. The
updating of the old RT-card related to reed roofs was also started by the Civil Engineering
Department and help was given to translating the corresponding Estonian card into Finnish.
The fire-sensitivity of reed roofs was studied in practice by attempting to burn a piece of a full
scale reed roof in Estonia. The experiment proved that reed roof ignites only after a lengthy
smouldering and predominantly through flammable supporting structures.

133
The Southwest Finland Regional Environment Centre and the City of Salo came unprejudiced
along to design a transformation of an obsolete allotment plan into a new residential area,
where common reed would act as the essential construction material. The incipient plan got
some steam in when the student of architecture Maria Coriminas became involved in the
project to put ideas into illustration and structural drawings. Architecturally original and
functional complex delighted the client and attracted considerable interest in the media. Same
kind of open-mindedness and courage that it has encountered so far in Salo is hoped in the
future to the implementation of this project.

During the project, the people participating had several chances to verify the functionality of
reed as a construction material. During the fact-finding tours in Estonian inns the nights spent
under reed roofs convinced the attendants of its functionality. Also the visit to so far the only
reed roofed residential building in Finland, the home of Usko and Taina Pannanen in
Muurasjrvi, Pihtiputaa enchanted the visitors. Not even the spring storm that arose during the
night could extend its rage within the house; rather the visitors spent a tranquil night in the
peaceful house. During the same trip, the visit to the father of Finnish reed ideology Hartwig
Reuter broadened the minds to manifold opportunities in the use of reed. The fervent hope of
Hartwig to find a successor to his work is a common wish of the whole project.

The future of reed construction in Finland looks bright, but on the other hand demanding.
During the Reed Strategy project only the first sparks were ignited for people in the use of reed
in construction. This spark must not die out, rather it should be fed. It would be necessary to
get a successor to the Reed Strategy project, which would solely concentrate on advancing
reed construction and would perhaps build the first finished and commercially viable reed
buildings e.g. in cooperation with construction companies. With the increase in environmental
awareness and the number of people interested in using traditional materials, the demand for
reed roofed and insulated buildings in Finland is already certainly adequate.

Sami Lyytinen, Project Manager, Turku University of Applied Sciences

Juha Kri, Research and Development Manager, Turku University of Applied Sciences
REED CONSTRUCTION
IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

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Supplementary image list
Sami Lyytinen 4: Skylight of Usko and Taina Paananens house.

Juha Kri 6-7: Clay and Reed.

Eija Hagelberg 12: Common reed.

Helga Stenman 20: Background of Muhu, Estonia.

Sami Lyytinen 42-43, 129: Firewood shed of Usko and Taina Paananen.

Martti Nakari 50: Thatched roof from Kina Parish.

Tiia Tilus 53, 62-63: Image of a scale model.

Elena Imarisio, Marco Mensa ja Francesco Strocchio 68-71: Reed canary grass shelter, Kavalto.

Thomas Commondt 95: Background of Villa Steam Castle.

Tiia Tilus 130: Reed bed.

Sami Lyytinen 134-135: Sunset.

Tools of a reed smith. Photo: Auvo Mkinen