Finnish architects Erkko Aarti & Arto Ollila delivered the winning proposal for the Institute's and The Architecture Foundation's Viewpoint Commission for the London Wildlife Trust.
The duo will be joined by designer Mikki Ristola to deliver the final design, which will be built in 2014 for Camley Street Natural Park in London's King's Cross. Aarti, Ollila & Ristola's structure is designed to serve as a viewing platform and additional workshop facility for the London Wildlife Trust's popular Camley Street Natural Park. The nature reserve, which sits alongside Regent's Canal acts as an invaluable study center for many local London schools.
Erkko Aarti, from the winning team Aarti, Ollila & Ristola says,
"We wanted to showcase the Finnish appreciation and respect for nature and give the visitors an exciting and enjoyable nature experience. Camley Street Natural Park is a unique and relaxing haven in the midst of a busy metropolis. The platform is sensitive to its surroundings, but it has its own identity and strong, recognisable shape that can be seen from afar."Aarti, Ollila & Ristola were selected from a shortlist of three Finnish teams, including ERA and Muntola & Ă–sterlund, by a jury comprised of Marcos Cruz (Director, The Bartlett School of Architecture), Owen Pritchard (Deputy Editor, Icon), and Ken Trew (Project Director, Argent), alongside representatives of the client group.
The Viewpoint at Camley Street is commissioned and will be delivered in close collaboration with the architects by The Finnish Institute in London and The Architecture Foundation for the London Wildlife Trust.
The Viewpoint competition and commission are a follow-up to the New Architects: Finland_UK exchange programme curated by the Finnish Institute, The Architecture Foundation and Museum of Finnish Architecture in 2012. The project is supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Kier Group, Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland, The Alfred Kordelin Foundation.
More info on the chosen architects:
www.erkkoaarti.fi
www.artoollila.fi
AARTI, OLLILA & RISTOLA TO DESIGN VIEWPOINT