Savonlinna Kirkkolahti

Savonlinna, Finland, 2011

Savonlinna Kirkkolahti area competition
1st prize

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.