The re-designed riverside of Tikkurilankoski in Vantaa intertwines the cultural landscape with nature.

The dam on the Vanhankaupunginkoski Rapids in Helsinki has been most widely discussed in the mainstream media. The impacts that would be caused by a demolition of the dam are currently being studied. However, you only need to travel ten kilometres upstream, along the banks of the Rivers Vantaanjoki and Keravanjoki, in order to become convinced that nature and cultural values can be integrated. When the centre-part of the dam on Tikkurilankoski Rapids – which was built in 1913 – was demolished three years ago, the water flowed freely again for the benefit of trout, thick-shelled river mussels, otters, other animals and people. At the same time, the banks of the rapids were refurbished for recreational use. The measures did not wipe away the long industrial history of the area, which is still present in the preserved dam walls and in the industrial buildings by the riverbank. The third temporal layer is formed by new bridges, walkways and areas for socialising, whose forms, materials and colours have drawn inspiration from river nature and the industrial heritage.

The restoration of the rapids and the refurbishment of the shores are part of a landscape design for the Tikkurila riverside. It is based on an entry by Loci Landscape Architects that won a landscape architecture competition in 2016. On this basis, Loci came up with a master plan the following year, which has been executed in a gradual manner since 2019.

The planning area is located on the banks of River Keravanjoki, on both sides of the main railway line. The industrial history of Tikkurila is very clear in the eastern part of the area. The Cultural Factory Vernissa, the former fire fighting equipment building and the furnace chimney on the northern side of the rapids are remnants of a linseed oil factory that began its operations in 1862. On the opposite shore, you will see the heir of the linseed oil factory, i.e. the former headquarters building of Tikkurila Ltd (Woldemar Baeckman 1960), research centre (Kaarina Löfström 1985) and production plants. An invitational competition on their renewal is ongoing. The objective is to create an urban district where housing, jobs and services would be mixed. If executed, the plan will, doubtlessly, also bring new users to the banks of River Keravanjoki.

The western side of the main railway line is more park-like, but here, too, you can find signs of the industrial history, such as the Veininmylly Mill and the Silk Factory, which currently houses homes, offices and cultural activities. The southern riverbank is dominated by the geometric form of the Finnish Science Centre Heureka, designed by Mikko Heikkinen and Markku Komonen. The building, which was completed in 1989, does not yet have official protection status, but its architectural values have been taken into account in the landscape design.

Source: Kristo Vesikansa’s review in Finnish Architectural Review 3/2022