As the square is a treasure precisely because it doesn’t masquerade as an outdoor museum it has to function as a living place, changeable and democratic. This is what “The Public Stage” celebrates and promotes. The design vision for Töölöntori focuses on the sociality of the square and tries to minimize the presence of the built mass coming due to the underground transportation system. It is to be mentioned that the current design of metro entrances would definitely obliterate the open character of Töölöntori. Therefore, “The Public Stage” gathers the station facilities under a sloped roof and forms an outdoor amphitheater landing on the other side of Töölöntori. This simple intervention which consists of the main design solution is expected to enrich further the quality of the space by providing a unique venue for cultural activities.
| LOCATION | Töölöntori, Helsinki, Finland |
| YEAR | 2019 |
| CLIENT | Helsinki Municipality |
| STATUS | Competition |
| PROGRAM | Completed |
“We expect too much of new buildings, and too little of ourselves” ― Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Artists, designers and architects alike must face the challenge of defining public space as an opportunity to create or improve the sense of community among those who will determine the use. In this respect, this proposal makes room particularly for public art as strong means of articulating the implicit values of Helsinki. To begin with, a proposed lightweight installation follows and revives the previous tram footprint aiming at preserving the memory of the old curved line.
The open amphitheater would facilitate the public space while keeping the market and the cultural life running without intervening but rather completing one another. Further, the streets surrounding the square are proposed to be transformed to car-free while providing more space for pedestrians or cycling. This would bring people back to the square and allow for a larger variety of pubic activities. The process of expanding the pedestrian zone could be executed in phases, with parking spaces gradually removed and biking lanes improved.