PES-Architects’ proposal Origami was selected as the winner in the international invited architecture competition for the new passenger terminal in the Port of Turku. A total of 18 design teams applied for the public procurement competition in autumn 2021, of which three teams were selected for the final phase in an anonymous process: PES-Architects, JKMM Architects, and Zaha Hadid Architects with Kontukoski Architects.
PES-Architects’ design was unanimously selected for best fulfilling the competition goals in terms of functionality and fit in the environment and landscape of the evolving Linnanniemi area, by the historic Turku Castle. The jury, chaired by Erik Söderholm, Managing Director of Port of Turku Ltd, also praised the exceptional and expressive architecture of the proposal.
Ferry cruises often provide a break from the everyday, and the striking appearance of the terminal building sets the passengers in the right mood for a sea voyage. The 13,600-sqm terminal is designed for high efficiency and flexibility to serve two shipping lines in separate berths, while forming a distinctive new architectural element in the harbour district.
The architecture is based on oblique triangular surfaces and a play with steel, glass and aluminium, delicately folded like a giant work of origami. The building’s sculptural lines and shimmering surfaces evoke maritime images of a silvery salmon or steel ship. The terminal also offers both arriving and departing travellers a vantage point to the surrounding city, its history and the seascape through tall glass walls and terraces.
“Being invited to this prestigious competition was a great honour for us. It´s a joy to start planning the new terminal in collaboration with the Port of Turku. Transport architecture serves users in everyday and business travel as well as on more special occasions and holidays, and the Ferry Terminal Turku project can be commended for investing in the high-quality design of the terminal,” says chief designer, PES-Architects partner Tuomas Silvennoinen, architect SAFA.
A further development phase will commence in late summer 2022 in collaboration with the client and other stakeholders. The goal is to have the new passenger terminal in use by early 2026. The competition win is the third for PES-Architects in central Turku in recent years. We are currently in the design phase for the Turku Music Centre and are waiting for work to start on the Turku Railyard arena and urban development project.
- Location: Turku, Finland
- Architect: PES-Architects
- Chief designer: Tuomas Silvennoinen
- Project manager: Pekka Mäkelä
- Design team: Eleanna Breza, Simon Richardus, Oskar Suomalainen, Martin Genet, Margarita Vodneva, Juho Jääskeläinen, Emanuel Lopes
- Transport planning: Olli Haveri and Jouni Ikäheimo, WSP Finland
- Structural engineering: Tomi Eloranta, Sweco Finland
- Year: 2022
- Images: Hansinok (exteriors), Courtesy of PES-Architects
