Helsinki Senate Square Lighting Master Plan
Senate Square is Helsinki’s most traditional and enduring urban space, possessing strong historical significance. Currently, during the hours of darkness, the square is more shrouded in gloom than representatively showcased as the capital’s prime location. As the square’s existing lighting had reached the end of its technical lifespan, the new master plan sought to elevate Senate Square’s nighttime appearance to a level befitting its historical and cultural value.
Information
Type Master Plan
Location Helsinki
Completion Year 2022
Client City of Helsinki
The 2014 master plan for Senate Square established general guidelines for the area’s nighttime appearance. The area was examined within its historical context, considering, among other aspects, its monuments and their role, as well as the importance of tourism. The square’s appearance and identity are crucial for the image of Helsinki and Finland as a whole, as a popular tourist destination. Various local stakeholders were interviewed, and discussions were held to incorporate as many perspectives as possible into the design.
Ultimately, the plan defined the square’s lighting objectives, principles, and methods. The primary goal has been to create an easily discernible nighttime space, ensuring the legibility of the place through its architecture, and establishing its hierarchical significance within the urban environment using contemporary lighting techniques.
“We wanted to focus on illuminating the buildings surrounding the square, not the square area itself. This reflects a contemporary lighting trend. For instance, in Europe, the practice of illuminating entire areas has been almost completely phased out. Instead, light is used to accentuate the environment, thereby creating the impression for the viewer that they are ‘in an illuminated space’.” – Marko Kuusisto, Project Manager
“The objective of the new lighting is to respectfully bring forth the monumental buildings without the light itself becoming a focal point. The light must serve the overall composition. It should only subtly emphasize the forms of the buildings and create a serene ensemble of the square and its structures.” – Roope Siiroinen, Lead Designer
Project Partners:
- City of Helsinki, Urban Environment Division
- City of Helsinki Building Control
- National Board of Antiquities
- Helsinki City Museum
- Urban Environment Committee
- Senate Properties
- Helsinki University Properties Ltd
- Helsinki Leijona Ltd
- Helsinki Parish Union
- Professor Vilhelm Helander
Contracting: Eltel Ltd
Electrical Design: Sitowise Ltd
Pole Design: Futudesign Ltd
