Töölönlahdenpuisto
Helsinki FI
Type Invited Commission
Team In collaboration with the City of Helsinki
Role Responsible for landscape design and concept development Size 8,8 hectares
Status Ongoing – Design work is scheduled for 2025, after which construction will begin in 2026.
The City of Helsinki is in the process of transforming Töölönlahti Park to strengthen its role as a green and recreational centre in the city.
Töölönlahti Park is one of Helsinki’s largest and most central parks. The current park was established 10 years ago but has not met users’ needs from the beginning. MASU Planning has prepared an idea and concept plan that outlines the overarching principles for the park’s long-term development.
Several smaller sub-areas and better integration of water
The concept plan divides the vast monofunctional lawn into several smaller areas, which will be defined by new plantings. Water will play a more prominent role in the park’s design, and the popular shoreline route will be expanded and better integrated with the rest of the park.
Surroundings set the framework for the park’s future
Töölönlahti Park is surrounded by some of Helsinki’s most notable areas. To the west lies the city’s cultural axis with iconic buildings such as Finlandia Hall and the Music House. To the north, the Töölönlahti coastline stretches as a calm, nature-based element, while to the east, the park borders the railway as well as residential and office areas. The southern part of the park is adjacent to the city’s absolute center. The concept plan mirrors the surroundings in various ways.
Extensive public involvement
The concept plan has been created based on extensive involvement of the park’s many stakeholders, including residents, cultural institutions, and business owners. A consistent request has been to make the park greener, which will be achieved by planting new trees and introducing more diverse and space-creating vegetation.
During the summer of 2024, a temporary first phase was implemented, where various plantings, functions, and spatial features were established and tested in Töölönlahti Summer Park. The public response has been overwhelming, and the positive reactions to these temporary experiments have provided valuable feedback, which will be integrated into the final design of the park.
