Vuosaari Cultural Block

The new urban heart of Vuosaari

Tiiliskivet (Bricks) is a competition entry that creates a new, expressive identity for the center of Vuosaari. The cultural block combines residential, cultural and sports functions into a clear and diverse whole that enriches the urban structure of the area.

The new cultural and sports facilities are located in a shared building on the northern edge of Vuotalonaukio square. Together with the existing Vuotalo cultural center, they form the new functional core of the area. The accessibility of the building has been optimized by placing the entrance and the shared lobby right next to the main entrance of Vuotalo, making the use of the new facilities a natural part of the existing whole.

Vuotalonaukio forms a new central part of the series of squares in the center of Vuosaari. The surrounding buildings, with spaces opening onto the square, frame an events square. Wide “cultural steps” leading down to the lower level of Vuotalonaukio provide a place for performances and spending time. The spaces beneath Vuotalonaukio open onto the lower level, where the preserved trees create a green oasis.

The urban vibrancy of the block is ensured by placing commercial spaces at street level, especially at the corners and along the edges of Mosaiikkitori and the other squares. The spaces can be flexibly divided or combined, and some of them are equipped to support a wide range of restaurant and café operations.

The Kalevala Story Courtyard

The residential block consists of a protective brick outer ring, visually broken down into smaller parts by variations in height and in the tone of the brickwork. Inside the protective wall, a green and colorful inner courtyard with low point blocks is revealed.

The courtyard is naturally structured from public to private. A semi-public path running through the middle divides the courtyard into sections, while semi-private seating areas are separated from the path by courtyard buildings and planting. Private apartment yards are lightly separated from the rest of the courtyard by pergolas and planting, giving residents a peaceful space of their own.

The courtyard theme of the block is the stories of the Kalevala, which link the courtyards into a single story running through all the courtyard spaces. The stories are reflected in the courtyard’s activities and vegetation, in places for lingering and play, and in art and buildings.

The ground-floor commercial spaces, communal sauna facilities and play areas connect seamlessly to the surrounding cultural services. This functional whole creates vibrant and flexible urban space that will serve residents far into the future. Parking for the block is discreetly provided in a two-level parking garage beneath the courtyard deck.