"On Tampere's Näsi park bridge, the structures of the old vehicular bridge have been used in an exceptional way for a new purpose, a landscape bridge for recreation and light traffic use. The landscape bridge blends into the surrounding areas in a pleasant way and continues the park-like flow between the areas." This is how the jury of the Environmental Structure of the Year 2023 competition characterized the winner today at the Green Days award ceremony in Jyväskylä. The Näs park bridge was designed by the landscape architecture firm Maanlumo Oy.
The Environmental Structure of the Year competition has already been organized 33 times. Among the three finalists, the jury chose Tampere's new landmark, the Näsi park bridge from Tampere, as the winner. The landscape architecture and functionality designed by Maanlumo Oy convinced the jury. The theme of this year's competition about greenness has also been nicely implemented in the winning destination. For example, you can find more than 40 different plants on the park bridge.
Maanlumo's landscape architects Krista Muurinen ja Elsi Lehto say that the win feels amazing, because there are so few industry awards in Finland. Winning the Environmental Structure of the Year competition is a very special recognition.
- Good landscape planning and construction is done in Finland. Through these competitions, we can also bring the industry to the fore more, says Muurinen.
An experiential meeting place of cultures
The Näsi park bridge connecting the Ranta-Tampella and Särkänniemi area was commissioned last summer after a two-year construction project. The old vehicular bridge has now been converted from the Näsijärvi side into an open recreation area for walkers. The adjacent section towards Tammerkoski has remained for vehicle traffic and cycling. Puistosilta is part of the Näsijärvi beach route.
Maanlumo made the first ideas about the use of Näsi bridges already in connection with the planning of Ranta-Tampella. It was great for them that the city of Tampere set out without prejudice and boldly to develop a bridge freed from cars for hanging out and various activities. In this way, the office got a total of 225 meters long and 14 meters wide bridge to modify. One of Maanlumo's special areas of expertise is parks and courtyards built on top of the deck.
- We were given free rein to design and wanted to realize a special experience place for the townspeople. The site was inspiring and one of the details that influenced the design was the gap between the car bridge and the park bridge. A walkway connecting the bridges was built on top of it, under which Tammerkoski can be seen, Muurinen says.
- The place is great in itself. The landscape is powerful and Näsijärvi is present, for example, in the wind of the bridge. On the bridge, the open lake landscape meets the cultural landscape on the city side, says Lehto.
Varied vegetation and stone structures
Local granite has been used in the versatile landscaping complex with a wave-like stone wall that evens out the level differences of the two bridges. Lehto says that in the initial stages concrete was also considered for the wall, but stone was chosen as the material because of its durability and locality.
- We wanted something rooted in the wall, Lehto sums up.
Green construction has been one of the starting points of the design, and the green areas continue through the entire park bridge. The plants have been chosen so that even when they grow, they do not cover the landscape of Lake Näsijärvi, but in the summer there is always something in flower at the places of rest. Tree plantings at the ends connect the bridge to the continents. The jury's arguments state that the green alternation implemented on the bridge is meritorious, the color choices are appropriate for the area and the planting areas naturally divide the living areas and paths.
The jury also praised the use of recycled materials and consideration of accessibility. According to the reasons, the construction materials of the landscape bridge were of high quality and the traces of the installation work were mostly meticulous.
The Environmental Structure of the Year competition is organized by KIVI ry, Betoniteollisuus ry and Tuartharliitto ry. The jury also includes representatives of the Finnish Landscape Architects' Association, the Finnish Architects' Association, Landscape Designers, the Ministry of the Environment and the Green Environment Association.
Press photos of the destination >>
A new competition has started
The Environmental Structure of the Year 2024 competition was launched at the event.
The purpose of the competition is to make known and promote the design and implementation of high-quality environmental entities. The competition values the development of new solution models, uses and applications, as well as the realization of the sustainable environmental construction operating model (KESY) in the sites.
For more information:
Tiina Kaskiaro, Construction Product Industry RTT ry
tiina.kaskiaro@rt.fi
050 466 0297
Sini Laine, KIVI association
sini.laine@kivi.info
050 330 1630
Timo Taulavuori, Garden Association
timo.taulavuori@puutarhaliitto.fi
040 745 3005