IFLA Europe Exhibition 'Re-considering Nature' project
from Finnish National Association of Landscape Architects - Suomen Maisema-arkkitehtiliitto MARK “Vuosaari Hill”
"Vuosaari Hill"
IFLA Europe Exhibition Project - second edition
This week we present a project entitled "Vuosaari Hill" from FINLAND and our National Association Suomen Maisema-arkkitehtiliitto MARK.
This former dump and landfill area has become a wide recreational area with significant nature values. It has been developed during the past years. Land masses with seed banks from different parts of Helsinki have been deliberately transferred to the area with the aim of utilizing the properties of the soil at the site.
The site’s landscaping has been experimental construction testing the reuse of soil generated by infrastructure construction. Huge monetary savings were achieved by utilizing recycled materials.
Years of work involved transforming the area into a diverse entity. The goal was an attractive recreational area that would reduce the pressure on protected areas nearby. Vuosaari Hill is a unique man-made natural site and a scenically significant entity. The fauna of the area is diverse and includes also rare and endangered species thanks to the special types of vegetation which has been developed in the recreational area. Narrow paths complement the main route network and allow nature observation even in the fragile parts of the area. Signposts have been carried out in the area and target boards on places of interest have been placed on nature trails. Fauna and vegetation development are monitored regularly.
Author: Landscape architect Taina Tuominen (FCG Finnish Consulting Group Oy), “father” of the whole project is Jukka Toivonen (City of Helsinki/Construction Service Stara)
Project and catalogue of IFLA Europe Exhibition Projects are available on IFLA Europe website https://iflaeurope.eu/index.php/site/exhibition-projects
Dear Delegates, Presidents and Secretariats of National Associations, dear partners and friends of IFLA Europe,
After the successful first edition of IFLA Europe Exhibition Project "Landsape as a common ground", we are delighted to present projects from the second edition entitled "Reconsidering Nature". The Exhibition is a joint effort of our members - National Associations of landscape architect(ure) - who submitted their best landscape architecture projects and the 'Exhibition Project' Working Group led by our past Secretary General Urszula Forczek-Brataniec SAK, Poland; and members Eva Jenikova, CAKA Czech Republic; Ana Levonmaa, MARK Finland; and Almut Jirku, bdla Germany. The Exhibition project would not have been possible without the support team: Katarzyna Jamioł, Tomasz Jaróag, Natalia Nowak@Politechnika Krakowska and the graduating graphic design team: Marta Gotfryd, Natalia Kubiela, Filip Bruchnalski @Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Jana Matejki w Krakowie.
The aim of the exhibition is to show the contemporary role of landscape architects in creating space. Its conventionally perceived task - to create and preserve beauty in the surrounding of human habitations - has expanded considerably. Environmental challenges, climate change and the living conditions of the inhabitants of larger and larger cities oblige us to take nature beyond the emphasis on aesthetic perspectives. In design, planning and management of landscapes, landscape architects face a contemporary challenge: thinking of nature as a subject, understanding its principles and respecting its needs. IFLA Europe exhibition presents projects conceived and created in close connection with the nature. It includes large and small-scale implemented landscape architecture projects showing the forces of nature as well as exposing nature’s rights, role and importance. IFLA Europe exhibition presents an overview of realised landscape architecture projects from all over Europe which are realised in harmony with the nature and using nature-based solutions. Implemented projects show work of landscape architects working either individually or in multidisciplinary teams. Realised projects promote environmental as well as aesthetic value.
