The design for the project was commenced following an open architectural competition resolved in 2013. The most important guideline for the solution was the location of the venue, as a part of a lush green park spread across small islands in the Oulu River delta. The venue seeks to be as open as possible to create a place for meeting and gathering in the heart of the forested landscape.

The footprint and shape of the building were deliberated on the basis of laser scanning and evaluation of valuable trees and brooks on the site. Functionally necessary large spans and cantilevers placed demands on the structural design of the wooden canopy, and collaboration between architectural and structural planning was essential in the process of creating this glue-laminated wood structure. The universal grid of load-supporting points to hang installations has been designed to offer possibilities to plan and host different types of events. The stage and movable audience seating are set under the canopy.

In contrast to the openness of the canopy, the auxiliary functions are housed in a solid, low, dark grey block of a closed auxiliary building. The support building’s frame is mainly brick and clad in cement fiberboard. One notable feature of the solution is the continuation of the landscape under the canopy. This has given landscape design an especially important role in the project.