Finlayson area

The history of the area dates back to 1820 when the Finlayson factory was established on the shores of Tammerkoski. The historic factory site has been modernized to focus on leisure, cultural and restaurant activities, business, art, and events. Lighting has a strong historical connection to the area where was the first electric light in the Nordic countries was turned on in 1882 in the Finlayson factory’s weaving building.

The lighting has been renewed at the old head office, which represents the usual red brick architecture in Tampere. On the Itäinenkatu street, white light illuminates the lively pedestrian street. In the courtyard, the tower and barrel of the old factory have new lighting. The lighting update also saves energy by almost 70 percent compared to the old one.

The starting point for the design was to respect the area’s historical architecture and highlight its details. One of the modern nuances that bring diversity is the video projection wall visible in the courtyard during events, also based in the lighting concept designed by Valoa.

Light art piece: Edison

A vibrant and diverse light artwork was implemented on Itäinenkatu street. It can change and evolve during seasonal themes and events. The starting point was diversity and respect for historical architecture.

The spirit and sparkle of an incandescent lamp were brought to the first piece, with which it is possible to find a connection to history and bring an old-time feeling to the area. Almost a hundred small led lights glitter above the pedestrians moving down the street. A bright light wave moves in the work every six minutes, reflecting Finlayson’s development and renewal.

The light work will grow and develop in the future, building a new identity for the area. The idea is that the whole entity is like a work of art, and different artists can participate in developing the art piece.

Read more about the process