Little Parliament park becomes oasis in Helsinki city centre

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The most central green area in the country, in front of the newly built annex building of the Finnish Parliament, was opened in Helsinki on Wednesday. The triangular piece of land along Mannerheimintie has been entirely transformed.
      The Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki Pekka Korpinen promised in his opening speech that this green area that used to be known as "a rape park" is now one of the safest and cleanest places in the city.
      Korpinen believed that residents will welcome the park as warmly as they greeted the terrace in front of Kiasma - the Museum of Contemporary Art - on the opposite side of the street.
      Furthermore, he noted that despite the building of the annex, the park area has grown and may grow even further, if the adjacent railroad track can be covered as soon as the construction of a new harbour in Vuosaari has been completed.
     
The workers in the City of Helsinki's Public Works Department remember well what kind of a dingy hollow the park - known locally as "Pikkuparlamentti" (Little Parliament) - was before the landscaping work started in July of last year. The staff of the nearby summer restaurant used to park their cars there, and alcoholics tossed their bottles in the bushes. After some earthmoving and soil preparation work, the park has now been lifted up to the street level, and even the sun has begun to shine there.
      The construction project was nevertheless somewhat controversial. Objections ranged from the high cost to the loss of the old poplar trees. However, a row of poplar trees was left along Mannerheimintie, and a number of new trees and bushes as well as perennials have been planted to replace the old ones.
      The two footpaths across the park have lighting after dark. There is an area paved with stones in the place where the paths cross, and on the lawn, some chairs have been placed.
     
The landscaping and construction work of the park cost close to EUR 800,000 - more pricey than an ordinary park.
      However, the aim was to use only high-grade durable materials and to complete the work so well that the park does not look half-finished.
      An aquamarine ice sculpture made by architect and artist Stuart Wrede crowned the opening day - Wednesday. According to the artist, the beautiful ice sculpture will last from two to four weeks. When the artwork melts it changes from a geometric figure into an organic form. Also the transparency, composition, and colour of the ice will change.
     
Once the sculpture has melted it will be replaced by a fountain with five water columns rising up to a height of two metres.
      The opening audience was impressed by the beauty of the ice sculpture, and if the residents of Helsinki like the artwork, it is likely that a similar ice carving will be seen in the park also in coming summers.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Parliament annex building completed; dozens of MPs and aides will have new offices (16.6.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat