A Roof for Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
Services
45.000 m2
2023
How can we transform a former Train Factory into a vibrant, high-density mixed-use and social hub that will benefit everyone in the city, while preserving its rich historical heritage?
A Roof for Helsinki is a proposal to transform a former electric train workshop in the Pasila machine shop area into a 45,000 m² mixed-use development combining offices, retail, and a hotel. The project is grounded in a dual ambition that aims to preserve the site’s industrial heritage while introducing a contemporary programme capable of operating as part of a broader social, commercial, and cultural hub.
Rather than being conceived as a singular urban landmark, the redevelopment of the Train Factory area is framed as a mixed-use neighbourhood structured around public life. The project prioritises a continuous system of streets, paths, parks, plazas, and open spaces, designed to encourage everyday use and year-round occupation. By placing public space at the centre of the strategy, the proposal shifts the focus from the building as an object to the relationships between people, movement, and shared outdoor environments.
Public space plays a structuring role throughout the project. Paths, parks, plazas, and open areas are conceived as the starting point of the intervention, ensuring that the redevelopment strengthens outdoor life and encourages year-round use. This sequence positions the former workshop as a civic anchor, integrating it into everyday urban routines instead of isolating it as a landmark.
At ground level, an organic vaulted ceiling defines a generous entrance condition and reinforces the relationship between interior activity and the surrounding public realm. Above, a new green platform introduces an elevated landscape with panoramic views over Helsinki. Conceived as a continuous roofscape, this level extends the public dimension vertically and reinforces the idea of a shared urban ground.
The architectural form is developed to be adaptable and cost-efficient over time, anticipating changes in programme and use. Material choices establish continuity with the local context while supporting this flexibility. Wood at ground level introduces warmth and tactility and encourages an active relationship with the street. Brick creates a dialogue with the surrounding industrial fabric, while the glazed upper portion lightens the mass and allows the building to dissolve into the skyline.
The project was developed in collaboration with the developer, public authorities, and residents, and through a partnership between MASSLAB and AFRY Ark Studio, combining international design capacity with local technical expertise. The competition was hosted by Train Factory Group and the City of Helsinki, bringing together five international teams across two selection phases.
Status
Complete, Open Competition
Awarded 1st Prize, The Golden Trezzini Awards 2023
Client
Train Factory Oy + City of Helsinki
Design team
Diogo Sousa Rocha
Duarte Ramalho Fontes
Joana Milhais Ferreira
Francesca Piccini
Diogo Parente Mina
Federico Vidilini
Filippo Bravi
Wladimir Pulupa
Klaudia Trebska
Ramona Dunser
Chaz Sweers
Rodrigo Waihiwe
Ricardo Domingues
Lourenço Menezes Rodrigues
Içim Atli
Consultants
Afry Ark Studio
Innovarch
Playtime
