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The renewal of the Eliel Square and Station Square area is currently in city planning phase and the aim is to find a high-quality solution for both the new buildings and the outdoor spaces – while respecting the valuable history of the area. The ambition is to design a safe and pleasant pedestrian city centre with a wide variety of services that increases the attractivity of the whole city centre, when completed. The New Eliel project is part of a larger renewal of the surroundings of the Helsinki Central Railway Station.
The design process is led by Elielinaukion kehitys Ltd together with the City of Helsinki. The architectural competition organised in 2021 was won by Norwegian architect company Snøhetta, currently the project’s principal designer, whose proposal Klyyga works as a base for the design.
Currently Elielinaukio is a noisy bypass point and an end point of public transport. The project will make the area safer and clearer than before. The functionality of the area will improve from the point of view of pedestrians and cyclists in particular. The area’s new life and high-quality architectural solutions will help elevate the Elielinaukio and the Asema-aukio area to a worthy prime location in the Helsinki city centre.
New Eliel is the only significant new construction project in the city centre that will bring plenty of the desired new jobs to the city centre. The jobs are created in the place in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area that is the most easily accessible with public transport. When completed, the project will create a new urban area in the Helsinki city centre with a wide range of services, where both Helsinki residents and tourists will enjoy themselves, engage in hobbies and use services.
The aim is to prepare a new detailed plan for the area based on the winning design solution during 2024 and 2025. The progress of the project and the steps for participating in the design can be followed on this website.
Design area
Vesa Olkkola
CEO, Architect SAFA, Elielinaukion kehitys Ltd
“Helsinki city centre will get a desired revitalisation push by the New Eliel project. Our project creates new spaces for shops and services as well as modern office spaces for new companies in the heart of the city, on the most accessible location by public transportation. The high-quality pedestrian zone and shops and services opening to streets of the plan improve the atmosphere and attractivity in the Eliel Square which is currently just a bypass point and mainly traffic area, felt unsafe by the citizens. As an architect I am most delighted to receive new high-quality, international architecture to Finland.”
Tomi Aimonen
Head of Real Estate Investments, Ilmarinen
”Elielinaukio is an important meeting place for tens of thousands of people every day, part of everyday life and daily mobility. A new, worthy idea is now being sought for this square that connects people in cooperation with the City of Helsinki. Our goal is to create a new meeting place of high architectural quality for Helsinki residents. Elielinaukio deserves a worthy future – which is why we decided to organise an international architectural competition.”
Jenny B. Osuldsen
Project’s principal designer, Landscape architect, Partner in Snøhetta
“Designing the Uusi Eliel project, Snøhetta Architect team drew inspiration from Helsinki’s rich architectural heritage, including the iconic Central station. Our goal: to honor this heritage while adding a quarter with inviting spaces for people to gather, relax, and connect indoors and outdoors. By reimagining the existing open area, our aim is to create a vibrant urban destination well integrated into the urban fabric, breathing new life into its heart.”
Developer
The project is developed by Elielinaukion Kehitys Ltd. The fully Finnish development company consists of the area’s property owners Ilmarinen, VR Group, SOK, Exilion and Evata Partners, a company specialising in real estate development and investment.
Queries regarding
the project:
Elielinaukion kehitys Ltd
Vesa Olkkola
[email protected]
040 544 23 21