Six years from passing bell to recovery: Habitat restoration of the threatened Chequered Blue Butterfly (Scolitantides orion) in SE Finland

We restored the habitat of the vulnerable Chequered Blue Butterfly (Scolitantides orion Pallas). The population at the restoration site almost became extinct in the late 1980's due to overgrowth by Scots pine forest. The habitat was restored by selective removal of pines in 1990. The abundance of S. orion was estimated in 1990-1996 and 1998-1999, and the population was studied intensively over a short period in 1997. The butterfly recovered after some delay. The numbers of specimens were low during the first five years, but a marked change in 1996- 1999 indicated the presence of a persistent population. The habitat restoration most likely prevented the local extinction of S. orion

Managing adversity : qualitative studies of long-term social assistance recipiency in Sweden in a resilience perspective

This thesis is based on four qualitative studies and aimed to explore the experiences of living long term on social assistance, and to increase knowledge on how social workers providing social assistance perceive their possibilities to support their clients. The findings were reflected from a resilience perspective, focusing on processes and features that help (or hinder), the positive functioning of individuals and families in adverse situations. Data consisted of interviews with 33 social assistance recipients (Study I-III), interviews with 23 social workers and observations in one of the study sites (Study IV). Interviews were carried out in Stockholm County during 2005-2006. Four research questions were explored. The first concerned consequences for well-being of living long term on social assistance (Study I-III). It was described as possible to manage to live on social assistance for a short time, but it allowed for nothing extra. In the long run, difficulties with money were unavoidable, resulting in financial stress. Psychosocial consequences of living on social assistance included feelings of powerlessness, exclusion, hopelessness, shame, stigma and dependency on authorities which adversely affected their perceived well-being. Among those with chronic illness (Study II) and those who had long lasting difficulties and adversity (Study III), the consequences for well-being were modified by their interaction with health and social services and how they as clients and patients were treated, in combination with the support available through the welfare system. The negative consequences of long lasting adversity included limited possibilities to make choices in their lives, increased isolation, feelings of hopelessness and not finding a way out. The second research question concerned the responses and strategies of social assistance recipients (Study II and III) to maintain or improve their well-being, including living one day at a time, taking steps forwards and backwards and making attempts to find ways out of the situation (Study II). Benefit levels, access to and quality of services as well as the overall construct of the welfare system, the quality of the neighbourhood and social networks all influenced the level of well-being. Strategies to manage long lasting adversity (Study III) included to focus on the well-being of the children and the family and to put one’s own needs behind. Another strategy concerned searching for balance in life, especially among those who reported mental ill-health. Those who reported addiction and struggled to “start a new life” focused day by day on staying away from drugs/alcohol, to find and keep a flat and try to create a new social life. The third research question was about ways out of social assistance (Study I-III), which required help from the society and professionals. Employment and education were common aspirations, but often beyond reach. Getting other benefits like unemployment benefit or sickness benefit was seen as “a better alternative” to enable improved access to rehabilitation and labour market activities. To be recognised as individuals, getting help and continuous support based on their individual needs were key aspects. The fourth research question concerned dilemmas in providing social services to long-term recipients (Study IV). Dilemmas related to the interaction between social workers and their clients, and to the societal context in which they operated. Benefit levels and cooperation between different public agencies further influenced the daily practice of social workers. Social workers balanced in a dual role between supporting clients and making demands on them as an authority. The importance of treating clients as individuals instead of seeing them as “categories” was highlighted. Resilience in the conducted studies, was about keeping going, managing adversity and resisting difficulties, and facilitated by supportive social contacts, access to adequate interventions with good quality and professionals who recognised them as individuals. As emphasised by social workers, structural measures such as improvements in co-operation between public agencies and in the overall construction of the benefit system combined with increase in labour market opportunities for different groups, would facilitate resilience among the clients. The thesis underlines the importance of developing strategies that prevent social exclusion and poverty in the society, combined with long-term targeted, individually tailored interventions

Investing in Mutual Funds : A Study of the relationship between net subscriptions to Finnish registered equity funds and stock indices from 2008 to 2014

This research investigates the relationship between net subscriptions to Finnish equity funds in 2008-2014 and four chosen stock indices, when any other factors are not taken into account. To define the relationship, coefficient of correlation is used. To understand the concepts of fund investing, net subscription, correlation and investor behaviour, the literature review offer a closer look into the basic concepts and theories behind these. Mutual fund investing has become more popular in Finland which can be seen in increased investments to mutual funds. After the negative year of 2008, net subscriptions have been growing steadily reaching the peak of 8.6 billion euros of money invested in mutual funds in 2014. When people make their investment decisions, they do not always behave rationally. Finnish investors react easily to market changes and in fear of losing money they redeem money from funds, when prices start to drop and invest again only when prices start to rise. This does not allow investors to earn high revenues from their investments. Results of the analysis indicate that there is strong positive correlation between the net subscriptions and stock indices. This means, that net subscriptions follow the changes on stock markets, which also reflects the investor behaviour in Finland

Spondyloosi ja synnynnäiset nikamien epämuodostumat suomalaisilla rotukissoilla

Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kartoittaa spondyloosin ja synnynnäisten nikamien epämuodostumien esiintyvyyttä suomalaisilla rotukissoilla lateraalisten ja ventrodorsaalisten röntgenkuvien avulla. Tutkimuksen kohteena olivat 1–10-vuotiaiden suomalaisten rotukissojen rinta- lanne- ja ristinikamat. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, kuinka paljon ja millaisia synnynnäisten nikamien epämuodostumia kissoilla esiintyy. Edelleen selvitettiin sukupuoli- ja rotukohtaiset kokonaislukumäärät. Spondyloosin osalta tutkittiin, kuinka paljon ja minkä asteista spondyloosia kissoilla ilmenee sekä missä nikamissa spondyloosia on eniten. Lisäksi kartoitettiin rodun ja iän vaikutus spondyloosin esiintymiseen. Suomessa ei ole aiemmin tehty suomalaisia rotukissoja koskevaa spondyloositutkimusta eikä tutkimusta synnynnäisistä nikamien epämuodostumista. On todennäköistä, että spondyloosi ja synnynnäiset nikamien epämuodostumat ovat kissoilla periytyviä kuten koirilla. Spondyloosi ja osa synnynnäisistä nikamien epämuodostumista voivat aiheuttaa pahimmillaan kliinisiä oireita. Tieto spondyloosin ja synnynnäisten nikamien epämuodostumien yleisyydestä on näin ollen arvokasta. Tutkimusta varten röntgenkuvattiin 103 rotukissaa Helsingin Yliopistollisessa eläinsairaalassa 3.10.2011–25.5.2012 välisenä aikana. Tutkimukseen osallistuneita rotuja oli yhteensä 17. Osallistuminen perustui vapaaehtoisuuteen. Tutkimuksen kissoista kuudella eli 5,8 %:lla todettiin spondyloosi. Spondyloosia löytyi viideltä eri rodulta: balineesi, pyhä birma, norjalainen metsäkissa, brittiläinen lyhytkarva ja burma. Kissat olivat iältään 5–10-vuotiaita keski-iän ollessa 7,3 vuotta. Spondyloosia esiintyi kahdeksannen rintanikaman ja viimeisen eli seitsemännen lannenikaman välisellä alueella. Eniten spondyloosia löytyi rintarangan 12. nikamasta, toiseksi eniten 13. rintanikamasta ja ensimmäisestä lannenikamasta. Kissoista 45,6 %:lla (uroksista 46,6 % ja naaraista 44,4 %) todettiin joko yksi tai useampi synnynnäinen nikaman epämuodostuma. Välimuotoinen nikama havaittiin 17,5 %:lla, välimuotoinen lanne-ristinikama 9,7 %:lla ja nikamien poikkeava lukumäärä 24,3 %:lla tutkimukseen osallistuneista kissoista. Tämän sekä aiempien tutkimusten perusteella on syytä olettaa, että spondyloosi sekä synnynnäiset nikamien epämuodostumat ovat melko yleisiä kissoilla. Tuloksissa oli jonkin verran eroa aiempiin tutkimuksiin, mutta tulokset eivät olleet täysin vertailukelpoisia johtuen muun muassa tutkimuksen kohteena olleiden kissojen eroavaisuuksista. Jatkossa olisi mielenkiintoista selvittää spondyloosin perinnöllisyyttä kissoilla sekä kartoittaa sen rotukohtaista esiintyvyyttä. Välimuotoisen lanneristinikaman periytyvyys sekä rotukohtaiset esiintyvyydet olisivat myös jatkotutkimusta vaativia aihealueita. Jatkossa kasvattajat voisivat lantion lateraalisten ja ventrodorsaalisten röngenkuvien avulla saada jalostuksen kannalta arvokasta tietoa kissojen mahdollisesta välimuotoisesta lanne-ristinikamasta sekä samalla myös lonkkadysplasiasta

Tundramaan Acidobakteereita infektoivien virusten eristäminen ja kuvaaminen

Global warming affects permafrost in the Arctic regions, where melting organic carbon storages will increasingly contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. Little is known about tundra soil microbial communities, but Acidobacteria and viruses seem to have important roles there. Here, for the first time, we isolated five Acidobacteria infecting viruses from Kilpisjärvi tundra soils using host strains previously isolated from the same area. Three viruses were isolated on Edaphobacter sp. X5P2, one on Edaphobacter sp. M8UP27, and one on Granulicella sp. X4BP1. The viruses had circular double-stranded DNA genomes 63,196–308,711 bp in length and 51–58% GC content. From 108 to 348 putative ORFs were predicted, 54–72% of which were sequences unique to each virus. Annotations indicated that all five phages most likely have tailed virions. The diversity of viruses present in the studied soils was estimated with the metagenome analysis. Only 0.1% (627) of all assembled metagenomic contigs were phage-positive. The gene-sharing network analysis showed approximately genus-level clustering between the virus isolates and a few metagenomic viral contigs, but overall, all (except one) viral contigs clustered only with each other, not with any known viruses from the NCBI database. No taxonomical assignments could be done for the metagenomic viral contigs, highlighting overall undersampling of soil viruses. Further detailed studies on virus-host interactions are needed to understand the impact of viruses on host abundance and metabolism in Arctic soils, as well as the microbial input into biogeochemical cycles

Infrastructuring for cultural commons

In this doctoral dissertation, I inquire into the ways in which Participatory Design (PD) and digital design endeavors can contribute to wider public access to, and use of, digital cultural heritage. I advocate for an approach according to which digital cultural heritage is arranged and understood as cultural commons, and for more collaborative modes of social care for and governance of the commons. In addition to the empirically grounded findings and proposals contained in six individual research articles, I develop a theoretical framework that combines scholarship on Information Infrastructures, Commons and PD. Against this framework I interrogate how the information infrastructures and conditions that surround digital cultural heritage can be active in constructing and contributing to cultural commons. While doing this, I draw attention to the gap that exists between on the one hand official institutional digital cultural heritage collections, systems and practices, and on the other hand the digital platforms and practices through which everyday people create, curate and share digital cultural works. In order to understand how to critically and productively bridge this gap, I present insights gained from conducting three design research cases that engage both cultural heritage institutions and everyday media users. Building upon this empirical work, and latching on to scholarship on the notion of infrastructuring, I propose four infrastructuring strategies for cultural commons: probing and building upon the installed base, stimulating and simulating design and use through gateways, producing and pooling shared resources, and, lastly, fostering and shaping a commons culture that supports commoning. In exploring these strategies, I map the territory between commons and infrastructuring, and connect these notions to the PD tradition. I do so to sketch the design principles for a design orientation, commons design. I assert that these principles can be useful for advancing PD, and can inform future initiatives, aid in identifying infrastructural challenges, and in finding and confirming an orientation to participatory design activities. Drawing on my practical design work, I discuss requirements for professional designers operating on commons frameworks and with collective action. By doing this, my dissertation not only breaks new theoretical ground through advancing theoretical considerations relevant to contemporary design research, especially the field of PD, but also contributes practical implications useful for professional digital media design practice, especially for designers working in the fields of digital culture and cultural heritage

Platforms of co-creation : learning interprofessional design practice in creative sustainability

Contemporary design and planning activities often involve complex and multifaceted problems that call for collaborative assessment between several actors, concepts, and interests. The overarching discourse on sustainability is a clear example, connecting together not only scientific research and politics, but also the perceptions and actions of professionals and laypeople. Recently, academic education has become increasingly structured around overarching thematic content, involving problem- and project-based learning in real-world contexts and in interprofessional constellations. Design, as a professional practice is collaborative problem-solving and communication, can offer several insights into the management of such interaction; and yet, in the context of sustainability, design becomes challenged as a discipline, constrained by the professional, institutional, and cultural structures and roles in contemporary meaning-making. This research studies the context of interprofessional design education for sustainability – more specifically, the development and implementation of an international and interprofessional Master’s degree study program in Creative Sustainability (CS), initiated in 2010 at Aalto University, Finland. The case assessment on which the analysis is based consists of three sets of interviews with supportive data, collected from the initiators, teachers, and students of the CS program between the years 2010 and 2015. Overall, the findings contribute to an understanding of how (design) professionalism contributes to sustainability, what type of support is needed in learning for interprofessional design for sustainability, and how such learning developes the (design) academia itself. In analyzing the case, the analytical framework builds on cultural-historical activity theory, with supporting insights that are drawn from practice theory (with a notion of communities of practice) and actor-network theory. In line with these theoretical perspectives, and to emphasize organizarional learning and developmental perspectives, interprofessional interaction in the academic context is constructed to involve three phases – priming, implementing, and experiencing – that also act as analytic components in assessing data. In this research, those aspects that are identified as important in implementing interprofessional learning for sustainability are ensuring that sufficient resources and competences exist to initiate practical inquiries and real-world interaction, and determining that the learning connects back to the initial objective of developing practice. Through such a process, a new kind of professionalism emerges, also renewing the academia as a platform for transdisciplinary action. For Aalto University, the CS interaction created new openings for outreach and for the development of teaching. At the same time, however, this new interaction became conflicted with existing interests and conventions, introduced by the various actors and interacting agendas, and the roles and structures in the current academia.Tämän päivän muotoilu käsittelee usein kompleksisia ja monitahoisia ongelmia, jotka vaativat useiden toimijoiden, konseptien ja kiinnostusten yhteistä arviointia. Selkeä esimerkki tästä on kestävä kehitys, joka yhdistää tieteen ja politiikan, mutta myös ammattilaisten ja kansalaisten näkemykset ja toiminnan. Akateeminen koulutus on järjestynyt nykyisin yhä selkeämmin temaattisiin kokonaisuuksiin, jotka sisältävät ongelmalähtöistä ja projektipohjaista oppimista. Muotoilu ammatillisena taitona yhteissuunnittelun toteuttamiseen voi tarjota useita menetelmiä tällaiseen oppimiseen. Kestävä kehitys kontekstina haastaa kuitenkin muotoilun ammattina, sekä ne roolit ja rakenteet joille se perustuu. Tämä tutkimus keskittyy moniammatilliseen muotoilukoulutukseen kestävän kehityksen kontekstissa. Tapaustutkimukseni kohteena on Creative Sustainability (CS), Aalto-yliopistossa vuonna 2010 alkanut korkeakoulujen välinen maisteriohjelma. Tutkimusmateriaalina ovat haastattelusarjat ohjelman aloittajista, opettajista ja opiskelijoista vuosilta 2010-2015 sekä muu kerätty kirjallinen materiaali ohjelman alkuvuosilta. Tutkimuksen tulokset lisäävät ymmärrystä siitä, mikä muotoilun suhde on kestävyyteen, minkälaista tukea tarvitaan moniammatillisen muotoilun oppimiseen kestävän kehityksen kontekstissa, ja miten tällainen oppiminen muuttaa itse koulutusta. Analyysin viitekehys perustuu toiminnan teoriaan (cultural-historical activity theory) ja huomioihin sekä käytäntöteoriasta (practice theory) että toimijaverkkoteoriasta (actor-network theory). Työssä tarkastellaan moniammatillisen oppimisen toteutumista kolmivaiheisen rakenteen kautta (priming, implementing, experience), jonka osien välisen dynamiikan ja mahdollisten ristiriitojen pohjalta syntyy syvempi ymmärrys vuorovaikutuksesta. Työ nostaa esiin viisi pääteemaa, joiden ympärille analyysi rakentuu. Tarvitaan riittävä resursointi ja tarvittavien kompetenssien tunnistaminen, jotta käytännön vuorovaikutus voi alkaa ja jotta vuorovaikutuksen tulokset linkittyvät takaisin toimintaan. Tällöin syntyy uudenlaista ammatillisuutta, joka mahdollistaa oppimisympäristön kehittämisen edelleen. CS toi Aalto-yliopistoon uudenlaista yhteiskunnallista vuorovaikutusta ja opetuksen kehittymistä. Samaan aikaan nämä avaukset synnyttivät kuitenkin myös jännitteitä suhteessa nykyisiin opetuksen ja ohjelmakehityksen käytäntöihin ja rakenteisiin

Targeting MTHFD1 and MTHFD2 as cancer treatment

One-carbon (1C) metabolism provides building blocks for nucleotide synthesis and therefore plays a central role in DNA replication and repair. To sustain rapid proliferation, cancer cells often upregulate their 1C metabolism, including the enzymes MTHFD1 and MTHFD2, as a part of their metabolic rewiring. Previously, MTHFD2 in particular has been indicated as a potential drug target, mainly due to its cancer-enriched expression profile. Interestingly, both MTHFD1 and MTHFD2 have also emerging nuclear functions besides their canonical metabolic activities in the 1C pathway. However, the nuclear localization of MTHFD2 and its role in the DNA damage response are not well understood. Moreover, evaluation of the therapeutic potential of targeting MTHFD1 and MTHFD2 in cancer is hampered by the lack of potent inhibitors of these enzymes. In this thesis, we aimed to develop small-molecule MTHFD1/2 inhibitors and characterize their mechanism of action, as well as study the nuclear role of MTHFD2 in DNA repair. In Paper I, we develop a series of small-molecule MTHFD1/2 inhibitors, including TH9619. We study the mechanism of action of these inhibitors and show that they cause thymidylate depletion, followed by excessive misincorporation of uracil into DNA, induction of replication stress and cell death in acute myeloid leukemia cells. These new inhibitors selectively induced apoptosis in leukemia cells while largely sparing nontumorigenic cells and displayed efficacy in a mouse xenograft model of acute myeloid leukemia. In Paper II, we further investigate the mechanism of action of MTHFD1/2 inhibitors, focusing on TH9619. We reveal that TH9619 engages with nuclear MTHFD2 but does not disrupt formate overflow from mitochondria since it cannot target mitochondrial MTHFD2. Mechanistically, TH9619 caused accumulation of 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate downstream of mitochondrial formate release due to its inhibition of MTHFD1. Trapping of 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate ultimately led to thymidylate depletion and cell death in MTHFD2-expressing colorectal cancer cells. Lastly, in Paper III, we identify a nuclear role of MTHFD2 in the early steps of DNA double-strand break repair in cancer cells. We found that MTHFD2 rapidly accumulated in the nucleus following ionizing radiation, which was mediated by the ATM and DNA-PK kinases, and co-localized with DNA damage sites. Depletion of MTHFD2 led to impaired phosphorylation of BRCA1, defective DNA end resection and decreased HR and NHEJ repair activity. Moreover, inhibition of MTHFD2 with TH9619 exacerbated DNA damage after irradiation in repair-proficient cancer cells and synergized with PARP inhibitors. In conclusion, this thesis details the complex mechanism of action of MTHFD1/2 inhibitors and highlights their therapeutic potential in cancer. Our work also demonstrates a critical role of MTHFD2 in facilitating double-strand break repair

Seafood traceability systems: Case Tracey - your traceability and trade data companion

Traceability of perishables such as food products is important for end-consumer food safety and operational efficiency of supply chains. Regulatory and market requirements have been driving the development and adoption of seafood traceability information systems. These Information systems are designed and built to support different stakeholders throughout the supply and value chain to collect, store and disseminate data about traceable products or resource units to form end-to-end traceability solutions. Implementation and use of traceability information systems typically require resources and know-how which may not always be available for the stakeholders in the beginning of the supply chain e.g. small scale fishers. There aren’t many information system solutions or tools that are targeted towards small scale fishers and fisheries. To answer to this need an information systems project, Tracey, was established to design and develop tooling for small scale fishers. Tracey is a blockchain based novel IT artifact, an information systems concept, that attempts to incentivize small scale fishers to provide first mile trade and traceability data of fish product from e.g. fish catch and fish landing. In this thesis the concepts of traceability, its drivers and benefits as well as traceability information systems are explored. In the case study, Tracey - a concept to incentivize small scale fishers to produce verifiable traceability and trade data, is presented and examined with information science research methods. The objectives for this study are to create a general understanding of benefits and challenges relate to seafood traceability, reflect Tracey with IS research methods, and suggest how to improve Tracey concept on basis of previous literature and research. Recommendations to improve Tracey IT artifact are provided on basis of analysis of Tracey with DSRM framework and further research is recommended on using blockchains in traceability information systems.Pilaantuvien tuotteiden kuten elintarvikkeiden jäljitettävyys on tärkeä osa elintarviketurvallisuutta ja toimitusketjujen toiminnallista tehokkuutta. Sääntely ja markkinoiden vaatimukset ovat olleet ajureina merenelävien jäljitettävyyden tietojärjestelmien kehittämiselle ja käyttöönotolle. Nämä informaatiojärjestelmät ovat suunniteltu ja toteutettu tukemaan eri sidosryhmiä datan keräämiselle, tallentamiselle ja jakamiselle jäljitettäville tuotteille arvo- ja toimitusketjuissa. Jäljitettävyyden informaatiojärjestelmien toteutus ja käyttö vaativat tyypillisesti resursseja ja tietopääomaa joka ei välttämättä ole aina saatavissa toimitusketjun alussa esimerkiksi pienimuotoisien kalastajien tapauksessa. Pienimuotoisille kalastajille suunnitellut informaatiojärjestelmät ja työkalut ovat harvassa. Vastatakseen tähän tarpeeseen uusi informaatiojärjestelmä projekti nimeltään Tracey on aloitettu. Tracey projektin tavoitteena on suunnitella ja kehittää työkaluja pienimuotoisille kalastajille. Tracey on lohkoketjuja hyödyntävä IT artifakti, informaatiojärjestelmä konsepti jonka tavoiteena on kannustaa pienimuotoisia kalastajia tuottamaan ensimmäisen mailin kauppa ja jäljitettävyys dataa merenelävien tuotteista esimerkiksi kalasaaliista. Tässä lopputyössä käydään lävitse jäljitettävyyden käsitteet, jäljitettävyyden ajurit ja hyödyt sekä jäljitettävyyden informaatiojärjestelmien konseptit. Case-tutkimusosuudessa esitetään Tracey informaatiojärjestelmä konsepti pienimuotoisten kalastajien kannustamiseksi tuottamaan todennettua jäljitettävyys ja kaupankäynti dataa, jota tutkitaan DSRM tutkimusmenetelmällä. Lopputyön tavoitteena on luoda yleiskuva ja näkemys merenelävien jäljitettävyyden hyödyistä ja haasteista, reflektoida Tracey konseptia tietojärjestelmien tutkimusmenetelmien avulla ja tuottaa ehdotuksia Tracey konseptin parantamiseksi kirjallisuuskatsauksen ja case-tutkimuksen myötä

Daylighting of the Finnish townhouse

The townhouse has been a subject of active discussion in the field of Finnish architecture in recent years and has generated interest among architects and city planners. It is seen as a solution that would combine benefits of both detached houses and apartment blocks. Finland has long lacked an urban, small-scale typology like the townhouse, while in many other European countries, townhouses have been a common form of housing for centuries. Because townhouses typically have a deep building frame and narrow facades, ensuring adequate amounts of daylight in the house requires effort and skill from the architect. Daylighting of townhouses is especially challenging in a country like Finland, where the long and dark winters limit daylight availability for a large proportion of the year. Yet light is known to have significant effects on human health, and daylighting of a home will therefore influence the wellbeing of its occupants. Recent research suggests that these effects are even more wide-ranging than previously thought, and the increased understanding on the matter has underlined the need for more attention to lighting in the design of our living environment. This is especially important in developed countries where people generally spend a large proportion of the day inside. Yet to date, daylighting of townhouses in general has been researched relatively little. There is some literature on daylighting strategies for the Finnish climate, but this too is limited and provides very little for townhouses. This thesis examines how architectural solutions affect the daylighting of the Finnish townhouse and aims to find strategies that would help create health-supporting lighting conditions in the townhouse. Central design solutions studied include city and master plans, massing, fenestration and floor plan solutions. For improved daylighting, Finnish townhouses should have limited frame depth and increased room height. More complex facade forms allow for increased fenestration space. A sufficient window surface area is needed, and the upper frames of the windows should be higher in order to guide light deep into the space. Skylights are a powerful daylighting strategy and can be effective in guiding light into the building’s core. Floor plan solutions should aim to avoid formation of dark areas in the core of the building: auxiliary spaces and dividing walls have to be placed strategically. This thesis also includes a simplified townhouse design that serves as a test house in descriptive and experimental research. In the experiments, the daylight conditions in a typical townhouse are studied. In addition, the effects of modifying the design according to the ideas discussed in the theoretical section are tested and demonstrated.Suomalaisesta rakennuskannasta ovat pitkään lähes kokonaan puuttuneet pienen mittakaavan urbaanit asumismuodot, joilla esimerkiksi Keski-Euroopassa on pitkä historia ja edelleen vahva asema. Viime vuosina kiinnostusta suomalaisen arkkitehtuurin ja kaupunkisuunnittelun piireissä on kuitenkin herättänyt townhouse-talotypologia, joka nähdään kerrostalo- ja omakotiasumisen etuja yhdistävänä asumismuotona, jolla voisi olla asuntovalikoimaa ja kaupunkirakennetta monipuolistava vaikutus. Townhouse-typologia on kuitenkin vaativa luonnonvalon käytön kannalta, sillä sille ominaiset kapeat julkisivut ja syvä runko tekevät päivänvalon saannin rakennuksen keskiosiin haastavaksi. Suomessa haasteellisuutta lisäävät luonnonvalon vähäisyys talvikaudella sekä suuret vaihtelut valaistusolosuhteissa vuodenaikojen välillä. Aihe on kuitenkin tärkeä, sillä valon tiedetään vaikuttavan ihmisten terveyteen ja hyvinvointiin monin tavoin. Viimeaikainen tutkimus on osoittanut valon vaikutusten olevan vielä merkittävämpiä ja laaja-alaisempia kuin aiemmin on tiedetty, ja niin ollen myös rakennetun ympäristön valaistusolosuhteiden merkitystä on alettu ymmärtää paremmin. Rakennusten valaistusolosuhteet ovat erityisen tärkeitä länsimaissa, joissa ihmiset viettävät suurimman osan päivästä sisätiloissa. Vapaa-ajasta suuri osa vietetään kotona, minkä takia erityisesti kodin valaistusolosuhteiden merkitys korostuu. Townhouse-talojen luonnonvalaistusta on tutkittu hyvin vähän, eikä varsinkaan suomalaista kirjallisuutta aiheesta ole juurikaan saatavilla. Tässä diplomityössä tutkitaan arkkitehtisuunnittelun vaikutusta suomalaisen townhouse-talon luonnonvalaistukseen, ja pyritään löytämään suunnittelukeinoja, jotka edistävät terveyttä tukevan valaistusympäristön luomisessa. Keskeisessä roolissa ovat niin kaavoitus kuin rakennussuunnittelukin. Massoittelulla, aukotuksella ja pohjaratkaisulla on kaikilla merkittävä vaikutus luonnonvalon saantiin rakennuksessa. Rakennuksen runkosyvyyden rajoittaminen, tavallista suurempi huonekorkeus ja monimutkaisemmat julkisivumuodot ovat oleellisia keinoja luonnonvalon määrän lisäämiseksi. Pohjaratkaisun suunnittelussa keskeistä on välttää pimeiden kulmien muodostumista. Aputilojen ja väliseinien strateginen sijoittelu on ensiarvoisen tärkeää, jotta valoa saadaan ohjattua pitkälle tilaan. Myös riittävä ikkuna-pinta-ala on välttämätön. Sijoittamalla ikkunan yläreuna korkeammalle saadaan valoa johdettua syvemmälle tilaan. Suomen ilmasto on pilvinen, ja pilvisissä ilmastoissa erityisen tehokkaita luonnonvalaistuksessa ovat kattoikkunat. Yksi kattoikkunoiden vahvuuksista townhouse-talojen osalta on myös se, että niiden kautta voidaan johtaa valoa rakennuksen keskiosiin. Tämä diplomityö sisältää myös yksinkertaisen townhouse -suunnitelman, jonka avulla suunnitteluratkaisujen vaikutusta tilojen luonnonvalaistukseen testataan ja havainnollistetaan. Suunnitelman avulla havainnollisestaan myös luonnonvalaistusolosuhteita tyypillisessä suomalaisessa townhouse-talossa