Active Trajectories
E18 LAHTI WINNER
Jacopo Gennari Feslikenian (IT), landscape architect
Matteo Motti (IT), architect urbanist
Ishaani Paresh Shah (IN), landscape architect
Cao Hengxing (CN), landscape architect
Abhinand Krishnakumar Menon (IN), landscape architect
Collaborator
Buket Turan (TR), architect
Evaluation
Active Trajectories is a balanced proposal which focuses on creating clarity and new spatial hierarchy on the competition site, adding significant new programming and use to the area. A thorough reading of the site and Lahti’s evolution as a city is presented, with emphasis on understanding and researching all-year-round use in relationship with the existing events and activities in Lahti. The historical analysis is connected to a vision of future development and phasing in a convincing manner. The overall concept is rationally organised and allows for flexibility in the future planning phase. The proposal considers the entire site and identifies new functional zones along the main axis routes, adding moderate urban infills in well-chosen areas. As a result, Active Trajectories holds great potential for increasing liveliness in the Sports Centre as a whole, with new services for both visitors, tourists and everyday users of the site.
A new Media Centre is located in the Central area, and together with an Infopoint, the new structures narrow down the vast open areas between the existing buildings, providing a physical framework for a new Forest Square at the entrance zone. The large parking lot of the Suurhalli is turned into a playful square, but the detailing of the landscape design is schematic. An amphitheatre on the other side of Teivaankatu provides a place for hanging out and following activities on the square. A Media Centre in the proposed scale and placement was not seen as entirely fitting for the future development, but the planned urban structure is flexible for other uses, and the positioning of the building has potential in itself.
The Teivaankatu axis towards Lake Vesijärvi is turned into a pedestrian lane and a mixed-use district with commercial and retail programmes such as repair shops, hotel, sport equipment rental spaces and cafes is enabled through urban infills. A location for structural parking is identified in a fairly feasible place along Svinhufvudinkatu.
Active Trajectories has some ideas for the visual and architectural identity of the area, but most of them are shown in the sections. Further development of architectural ideas would have made the proposal stronger. The strength of the proposal lies in its strategic approach.
Description
Active Trajectories reimagines the Sport Center as a dynamic hub that weaves together Sport, Nature, and Culture. At the heart of our proposal lies a 1.8 km linear active park, a North–South axis that connects the Sport Center with Lake Vesijärvi and the future Railway Park. This is complemented by an East–West axis linking the city center to Salpausselkä Geopark, anchored by a new “ring gate” that marks the intersection of movement, identity, and experiences.
Our vision prioritizes pedestrians and introduces a social and ecological infrastructure, celebrating Finnish identity through biodiversity, human-scale design, and shared public space. With flexible programming for all seasons and ages the project fosters wellbeing, active lifestyles, and coexistence between people and nature.