Helsinki Olympic Park

The area around the Helsinki Olympic Stadium right north of the city center is a complete entity functionally, culturally, as well as historically. It is known for its various sports locations, a forested park popular especially amongst joggers, and the City’s Winter Garden. On the master plan scale, the area is part of the green shaft of the Central Park.

The area is significant for its cultural history, architecture and cultural landscape, but has been lacking overall improvement for decades. The main design area, Mäntymäki, south of the stadium, has degenerated from a space full of people and optimism into a gigantic dead parking lot.

The Helsinki City Rail Loop railroad tunnel is planned under Helsinki city center. One of the main stops of the rail line, if built, would be located on the southern edge of the area – bringing in a lot of people and causing pressure for new construction.

The main goal in our design task was to introduce specific new projects large and visible enough to contribute to the activation of the existing spaces, but which could be implemented without changing the scale or shape of the existing public spaces.