News / Aalto Garden Otaniemi - Sofia Tigerstedt's Uomapuisto wins
02.02.2012
On Monday, the winner of the Aalto Garden Otaniemi student design competition was announced. Sofia Tigerstedt's entry, Uomapuisto, will soon become a new green space on campus.
The competition, open to all students and organised by the departments of environmental art and landscape architecture, searched for a visually impressive park and garden design to become the heart of the Otaniemi campus. Each of the 8 shortlisted proposals had at least one strong, imaginative feature. Looking over the designs last week, we didn't envy the jury in having to make a decision as to which one was the best. Some of the entries presented particularly aggressive or ambitious landscaping ideas - one that comes to mind involved reshaping the campus lake into the famous shape of the Aalto vase - so for the students, this was a delicate balance in creativity, innovation, and feasibility.
The winning entry would foster a sense of community and have something to offer to the surrounding community - and Sofia Tigerstedt's unanimously winning entry doesn't disappoint.
First prize 5000€, Uomapuisto, Sofia Tigerstedt
Tigerstedt's work offered, according to the judges, the best balance between city and garden - it includes, for instance, an urban agricultural area - and was also presented in an engaging way. Her proposal was also praised for its feasibility and for features that would be relevant to the existing community.
Second prize 2000€, Pilke-puisto, Elsi Lehto
Lehto's approach divided the park into different areas according to the natural landscape, creating a versatile atmosphere. Another strong point in her work is attention to lighting, using it as another tool for landscaping.
Third prize 1000€, Aallon kansi, Veera Tolvonen
Veera Tolvonen's entry was rich with features, including a "landscape laboratory".
The other entries were:
LEMMEN LAITURIT by Aapo Pihkala
OTALAAKSO by Tuomo Ranto
OTANIEMEN DELTA by Suvi Saastamoinen
OTANIEMEN KEIDAS by Leena Holmila & Maria Nordlund
SAVONIA GARDEN by Yena Young
Text: Johanna MacDonald
