The finalists for the invitational architecture competition for Cultural Centre Stoa have been selected. Out of the seven proposals received, four visions for the renovation and expansion of the cultural centre were selected to move forward. The proposals ‘Stoa for All of Us’, ‘Open Doors’, ‘Stoic’ and ‘City Hall of Culture’ are proceeding to the second stage of the competition.
You can view the proposals here: https://stoa-gallery-tietoa-cc.vercel.app/(Link leads to external service)
Helsinki residents valued openness and responsibility in the proposals
The City collected feedback on the competition entries last summer, and Helsinki residents were also given an opportunity to vote for their favourites. One recurring aspect in the feedback collected was an appreciation of brightness, openness and environmental responsibility. Preserving the current identity of Stoa was also regarded as important. Criticism was levelled at aspects such as closed wall surfaces, grey facades and architectural solutions that were disconnected from the surroundings.
Based on its assessment, the jury selected the same four proposals that also received the most votes from residents to proceed to the next stage. Residents cast over 600 votes and submitted a total of 81 comments on the proposals. The jury had access to more planning materials than residents, as well as a summary of the residents’ assessments.
The jury selected the four most workable proposals to proceed to the second stage of the competition. “The selection focused on the overall architectural approach, the functionality of the facility concept, the attractiveness of the proposal and its integration into the surrounding urban structure,” explains Sari Hilden, chair of the jury.
The finalists will get to develop their proposals further
In the second stage of the competition, all finalists will receive personalised guidelines for further planning and design work, on the basis of which the competition entries will be developed further. The groups will have until the end of December to develop their plans, after which the finalised proposals will be submitted for assessment. The jury will begin assessing the finalists’ entries in January, and the winner will be announced in spring 2027. Helsinki residents will also have an opportunity to familiarise themselves more fully with the further developed competition entries in early 2027.
The aim of the overhaul of Stoa is to make the cultural centre, located in Itäkeskus, more functional, open and attractive than before.