Snøhetta announced as winner in downtown Helsinki revitalization project

A winner has been announced in the international competition to author a commercial revitalization of the popular Eliel and Asema Square in the Finnish capital.

Snøhetta will partner with the local firms WSP and Davidsson Tarkela Oy to create a new plaza and city block called "Klyyga" ("the crossing") in central Helsinki. 

A quick glance at the renders reveals a new glass and granite building surrounding the railway station and the historic Vltava building that was converted into a restaurant in 2005.

Per the architects: “The purpose of the design is to supplement, integrate and revitalize the urban fabric of the area, while adapting to the valuable surroundings, the city’s framework and building heights to create a porous new city block for indoor and outdoor activities. The concept aims to add a new layer in the architectural history, building on what is and developing the area towards the future.”

The building’s passive house facade and hybrid timber structure support the green building mission that is central to the new development. Snøhetta has also said it wishes to offer up a program that enhances the connectivity of the area, as evidenced by improved pedestrian access and upgraded bicycle ways that the firm says provide a significant addition to one of the capital’s busiest areas. 

"With Klyyga, the Eliel and Asema square will clearly contribute to the city of Helsinki’s urban strategy,” Snøhetta partner Jenny B. Osuldsen said in a statement. “Revitalizing the area with new development, expanding the pedestrian areas with green mobility and urban programs, will make Eliel and Asema square a more vibrant, exciting destination as a place to go to and to stay, work or play in. Now, we are looking forward to the next steps of detailing the project, ensuring that this urban space becomes the hub we all want it to be for the vibrant city of Helsinki."