Plans unveiled for commercial development next to Orthodox Church in Turku, Finland

In Turku, plans are underway for significant commercial development next to the Orthodox Church, near the city market. The city has now published proposals from an architectural competition, and residents can comment on four entries through the city’s website. The competition will determine a winner in October from submissions by four well-known Finnish architectural firms: Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit Oy, Arco Oy, Futudesign Oy, and Sarc+Sigge Oy. The designs were submitted anonymously for impartial evaluation by the judging panel.

Within just a few days, the proposals have received around 1,600 comments. The first option appears to be the most favorable among residents. “It fits into the landscape best,” noted local resident Pekka Heikkilä. Hannele Dahlgren also prefers the first option, emphasizing that the building should not be taller than depicted in the design. While Osmo Koskinen expressed dissatisfaction with all options, he too leans towards the first proposal. Despite an abundance of vacant commercial space in the city, no one the media spoke with questioned the need for new commercial buildings.

The site previously housed the main building of Turku University, which was completed in 1878 and became the university’s main building in 1920 before being vacated and demolished in 1959. Cultural historian Rauno Lahtinen has documented the tumultuous history surrounding the Phoenix building, noting that the city had a chance to purchase the property but ultimately did not, due to political disagreements over the development strategy.