Project: Tourist Development of the Helsinki Archipelago Year: 2023 Type: Open international competition Program: Tourist development of five skerry islands off Helsinki Size: 105 ha Architecture: Opposite Office Team: Benedikt Hartl, Maximilian Loeschke, Bibo Tian, Johanna Heim Client: City of Helsinki Location: Eastern Archipelago of Helsinki, Finland

A famous Finnish poet wrote an Ode about our project*

Halailla Luontoa

Upon an isle where nature‘s hand

Did weave a tapestry of sand,
A wondrous place of quaint design,

Where culture and the wild align.

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With tourist gems of tiny size,

Each structure, a sweet surprise,

Where nature‘s gifts, a guiding force,

Create a realm of true discourse.

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Amidst the foliage, tall and grand,

A tree stands tall, a beacon‘s hand,

Its branches cradle dwellings small,

A symphony of life in thrall.

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A bridge of stone, with moss adorned,

Where rushing streams have once meandered,

A testament to nature‘s touch,
As structures blend, they never clutch.

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A tiny hut, with shells entwined, A testament to crafts refined, Woven tales of ages past,
In harmony, they‘re meant to last.

Beneath the stars, a gazebo lies,

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With twinkling lights that grace the skies,

The constellations, brightly glowing,

Above this isle, their beauty showing.

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Around, the fauna freely roams,
As part of nature‘s vibrant tomes,

Where humans walk with gentle tread,

In harmony, this place they‘ve bred.

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So come, explore this magic isle, Where culture and the earth compile, A testament to unity,
In nature‘s grasp, we all agree.

Let‘s cuddle in nature, let‘s cuddle with nature.

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*translated from Finnish

Read more about our project:

 https://www.europan-europe.eu/en/session/europan-17/site/helsinki-fi-1

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