Competition

We took part in an innovation competition organised by the city of Helsinki with the aim to develop the valuable hospital area of Lapinlahti. Central to our plan is the neoclassical main building of the hospital that was completed in 1841 and designed by architect C. L. Engel. The main building, as well as other protected buildings, are renovated and their environmental friendliness will be improved significantly. The planned new construction utilizes wood and offers the old hospital milieu a new temporal level that supports the protection and strengthening of the characteristics of the area.

A central vision of the plan is to restore silence in the historical recreational landscape. This will be done with the tools of architectural design and landscape architecture. The design strongly considers sustainable principles and the diverse natural environment of the area by saving a lot of the valuable timber and vegetation. This is achieved by creating a multispecies sensory garden and by expanding the allotment gardens area. The yard and park areas have many locations for events, gatherings, and recreation. The plan pays special attention to carbon-neutral solutions, such as geothermal heating, green roofs, and solar panels.

Our solution makes Lapinlahti a new kind of lively and inspirational meeting place for different user groups, designed on an ecologically and economically suitable base.