Hatsinanpuisto wins Environmental Structure of the Year 2024 award
The Hatsinanpuisto park, located in Leppävaara, Espoo, has won the Environmental Structure of the Year 2024 award. The award is granted in recognition of outstanding design and implementation of the built environment.
Hatsinanpuisto serves as a gateway for pedestrian and cycling traffic from Leppävaara station towards Perkkaa and Vermo. Local residents had longed for a greener, more diverse environment with improved routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Completed in 2023, the versatile Hatsinanpuisto was designed to meet these needs and has since become a popular gathering and recreational space.
Dialogue between nature and city
The landscape architecture of Hatsinanpuisto was designed around the natural flooding of the Vermonoja stream and the preservation of a suitable habitat for trout within a built environment.
“Our goal was to create an urban space where aesthetics and ecological sustainability intertwine into a dynamic whole – an environment that evolves over time and invites city residents to become part of the landscape. This approach influenced key design choices, such as selecting plant species resilient to both flooding and drought, as well as placing recreational areas at varying flood levels,” says the principal designer of the park Pia Kuusiniemi from Loci Landscape Architects Ltd.
One of the central considerations in the park’s design was the relocation of the Vermonoja stream. The relocation created space for offices, commercial premises and a hotel and ensured a thriving habitat for trout. The planning process involved close collaboration with various stakeholders as well as experts in running water ecosystems and trout habitats.
“The aim was to design a lasting, diverse environment that serves both people and nature while promoting cycling and walking. Hatsinanpuisto is a lush oasis that transforms with the seasons and changing water levels. It’s exciting to see that trout have spawned in the park, where the spawning gravel beds have been improved. Restoring the gravel beds requires special expertise and is carried out by active volunteers dedicated to river and stream restoration,” explains Landscape Architect Kristina Rocha from the City of Espoo.
High-level competition
The competition attracted a large number of entries. Five exceptionally high-quality projects made it to the final round – each with the potential to win. According to the jury, the winning Hatsinanpuisto stood out because of its several key strengths. The park impressed the jury with its striking design, where the colour scheme, material choices, usability, and recreational values blend seamlessly together to create a harmonious and immersive environment.
The annual competition is organised by Betoniteollisuus ry, Kivi ry and Viherympäristöliitto ry. The jury also includes representatives from the Finnish Association of Architects, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Association of Landscape Architects, Viher- ja ympäristörakentajat ry, Maisemasuunnittelijat ry and the media.