We won the 1st prizes in 2 competitions for 2 new housing areas in Savonlinna

Eriksson Architects won the first prizes in two competitions for two new housing areas in Savonlinna.

2. Linna.

The concept of the plan was to make a sheltered inner yard in the middle of the building masses by designing a hard shell around it. This was achieved by laying the building masses in an abstract castle like manner around the courtyard thus sheltering the residents from the noise and pollution coming from the new highway. The height differentiation of the masses was a way to maximize the lake views from the apartments and let the sun shine through to the yard. The vicinity of a small boat harbor was stretched into the planning area and taken as a feature that could liven up the more public lakeside of the housing area.

The planning area, Savola, is located just northwest of the center of Savonlinna. The area of the site is 16750 sqm and the plan consists of 15650 floor sqm.

The jury praised the plan for its fresh, bold and new take on a housing area. They were seeing it as a strong landmark for the future city of Savonlinna.

Kide (Kirkkolahti)

The plan consists of three and five story apartment buildings and townhouses along the lake shore which gives 21 020 floor sqm. The planning area, Kirkkolahti, which is 156 000 sqm is located southwest of the city centre.The urban setting of the project had two intentions. First to form a proper street scale by situating apartment buildings, with small commercial spaces at the ground level, along existing streets. That made them more city like and alive. At the same time, it created an L-shape ‘shelter’ form for smaller apartment buildings which were placed inside the mass and which slope down to the east giving terraces feeling from the lake. Second intention was to create a park at the lake shore for public use with different leisure activities spaces placed.

Whole planned area was covered with pedestrian lines, creating public and semi-public zones, for people to spend time and socialize. There was no need to create new streets, so the traffic noise was reduced to minimum but the whole terrain is functionally joined. The design creates a field of relationships and a new ‘pattern’ to the city plan of Savonlinna.

The jury praised the plan for its beautifully designed building massing that makes the silhouette of the area uniform and for the architecture of a high class. “The landscaping and the design of the green deck are of a high quality and are important for the area”.