The name “Turku” and the Finnish word for market square, “tori,” share the same root in the ancient Russian word turgu, meaning marketplace. Turku’s market squares have long been central to the city. The Vanha Suurtori (Old Great Market Square), dating back to the 13th century, lies near the Aurajoki river. Across the river, Ny Torget, the “new” market square, has existed since the 17th century, with its current form designed by C.L. Engel in 1827. Today, notable buildings around the Market Square include the Orthodox Church (Engel, 1845), Åbo Svenska Teatern (Gylich & Engel, 1839), and the modern extension to the Hamburger Börs Hotel (Schauman, 2021). Other significant structures include Viljo Revell’s KOP-kolmio commercial building (1964).

The current layout of the Market Square and its surroundings follows a master plan prepared in 2005 by Sigge Architects, SCC Viatek (now Ramboll), and lighting designers Valoa. The Toriparkki underground parking facility, built between 2018 and 2020, was designed by Schauman Architects. Above ground, the market pavilions, completed later, were designed to define the square with steel and wood structures resembling tree canopies. Their curved glulam beams and glass walls create an open, warm atmosphere, while restaurants and shops within the pavilions connect seamlessly to the square’s paved surface.

The refurbishment also included landscaping and public art. The “Saariston sydän” design by Sigge Architects, Loci Landscape Architects, and Valoa introduced features such as a chessboard-patterned area of old paving stones for market stalls and a stage canopy complementing the wooden pavilions. Cherry trees now frame the Orthodox Church, while Saaristohyppely, an artwork featuring a granite map of the Turku archipelago with light and water effects, invites visitors to explore the square interactively. Planted trees and seating-height stone edges soften the open square, creating a welcoming urban space.

Source: Summary of Pirjo Sanaksenaho’s review in Finnish Architectural Review 1/2024