Winning 'Saaret' design proposal aims to revitalize Helsinki's waterfront area of Makasiiniranta

In March 2022, the Finnish capital announced the four finalists proposals as contenders for designing Helsinki's Makasiiniranta harborfront area redevelopment. After much deliberation, the jury now awarded the Konsortium Gran design team the first prize and an award of €100,000 (USD104,000). The team consisted of designers from Niam, K2S Architects, White Arkitekter, Ramboll Finland, and Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ Oy. 

Their project, titled Saaret ('The Islands'), promises "an interconnection of flexible built spaces, dynamic public gathering points, and urban nature, with views across to the city, the Uspenski Cathedral, and waterfront."

"The realization of Saaret will create an intersection of cultural and sustainable environments that aim to improve the area’s microclimate and create bio-diverse habitats with rooftops featuring beehives, vegetable and herb gardens forming an important part of the design," explains the design team.

This year's jury took note of the proposal's inclusion of "the ingenious urban morphology of city sightlines, the respectful treatment addressing both historical values and cultural environment of the area, and the creation of a new unique layer to the national landscape."

Mikko Summanen, Partner at K2S Architects, commented on their win stating: "It is an honor to be able to write a new narrative for such a vital part of the national landscape in Helsinki and this country of ours. I believe Makasiiniranta is a far bigger project than purely its footprint. It has the potential to revitalize the whole of downtown Helsinki."

Second prize winners Boardwalk by AALTO Development and Makasiinipromenadi by South Harbour group receives €70,000, and the third prize winning team Ahti by Elävä Eteläsatama will take home €40,000. 

Learn more about the design competition and other winning projects here.