The purpose of the idea competition was to create a master plan for the Northern side of the train tracks in Leppävaara, Espoo. The objective was to draft a high-quality proposal in terms of architecture, urban structure and functionality. The master plan also needed to improve the area’s identifiability and attractiveness. It will guide the area’s detailed plan and phased implementation for the next 10–20 years.
In addition to the idea competition, the City of Espoo was looking for realisers for the competition area with a separate planning reservation application process. This process was merged with the idea competition in the competition’s second phase. The results of the idea competition will be utilised as selection criteria for the planning reservation. Espoo City Board’s Business and Competitiveness Subcommittee will make the decision on the recipients of the planning reservation.
In the winning proposal, the Northern and Southern side of the tracks are united by building a deck and houses on top of Turuntie. The proposal includes both residential and business premises on top of the deck and on the Northern side of the tracks.
“Walk Around fulfilled the competition’s goals the best. The objective was to turn Leppävaara into a functionally mixed city centre in which services, homes, jobs, events and hobbies create a new, diverse urban structure,” says Olli Isotalo, Deputy Mayor, Urban Environment Director, City of Espoo as well as Chair of the panel of judges.
“The plan is ambitious, but the individual buildings and blocks seem realistic and possible to implement. The centre area is dense and efficient, and the block structure becomes lighter and more diverse as you move towards Gransinmäki,” says Mika Rantala, Project Director of the Leppävaara project.
“The name Walk Around reflects the vision of our proposal. Our goal was to develop the central urban environment in Leppävaara into an area in which you can truly walk or bike around the entire central Leppävaara area easily. At the same time, it unites Northern and Southern Leppävaara with each other. Our aim was to create a centre with a strong identity and stimulating public spaces that would function as a living room for the area’s residents and operators while supporting a sense of community,” says Vesa Jäntti, Architecture Director, Arco.
