Press Releases

13.09.2012

Mony announced: "The winner of the International ELCA Trend Prize 2012 is the Katariina seaside park in Kotka, developed and landscaped on the site of a former port and an oil terminal massively polluted with hazardous substances. As patrons of the International Trend Prize, we are convinced of the qualities of the urban public park in Finland, regarding both its landscape gardening and ecological value. This is a successful example of the dismantling and reconstruction of a contaminated, urban industrial wasteland into a local public recreation area".

A project of exemplary character for landscape design and environmental care

Emmanuel Mony pointed out: "This project has exemplary character: it combines attractive landscape design on a large scale with outstanding measures for environmental care. The urban green area (approx. 20 hectares) enables residents and visitors to the city unrestricted access once again to the sea-surrounded cape of the central island of Kotka, after around 70 years of industrial use of the area (1930's until 2002). The Katariina seaside park is an impressive example which shows that even an industrial city can score as a "green" city and set milestones for a high quality of life".

Valuable impulses for a green city development

This year the ELCA and BGL (Bundesverband Garten-, Landschafts- und Sportplatzbau e.V. - German Federal Association for Garden, Landscape and Sports Field Construction) have consciously decided on the acknowledgement of a "rededication of contaminated urban industrial wasteland as a public green area". ELCA president Emmanuel Mony commented: "One of the biggest challenges for the future is to create best possible frameworks for a healthy co-existence of work, living and recreation. In short: to design urban areas with a high and truly green quality of life despite the various demands placed upon it". The jury is convinced of the quality of the project. It praised that the "Katariina seaside park" sets a trend through the dismantling and reconstruction of urban contaminated industrial wasteland, also in its utilization as a public park, an important green location factor and recreation area, even prior to the commencement of the detailed construction planning of the urban housing development in the surrounding area.

Cooperation between building owners, landscape architects and landscape gardeners

In close cooperation with the Bundesverband Garten-, Landschafts- und Sportplatzbau e. V. (BGL), the ELCA acknowledges the joint merits of building owners, landscape architects and landscape gardeners relating to building with green spaces every two years. Together the associations want to honour projects with special, distinctive design qualities as well as features of construction, planting and landscaping with the award of the International Trend Prize "Bauen mit Grün", and in this way to further interdisciplinary cooperation.

Kotka: Katariina seaside park – an attractive public green area

Kotka is a port and industrial city which acts as the most important logistical hub in Finland. The Katariina seaside park is an area of around 20 hectares at the most southerly point of the central island of Kotka. It lies on a particularly attractive cape on the sea. The landscape design was begun in the autumn of 2004 - and was continued in stages over the following years. To the north, adjoining the Katariina seaside park, an urban housing development is to be built.
The first stages were already carried out in the mid 1980’s, i.e. the gradual conversion of the port and industrial city of Kotka into a city of parks and gardens. In the course of this city development, severe ground contamination on the industrial wasteland in the area of the former port and storage terminal for oil and other liquid goods first had to be cleared.

Natural beauty: rock formations, green areas and floral zones

The design of the park incorporates the natural conditions of the location - the wonderful bare rocks and the coast line - in an optimal way. Additionally, the individual sections of the area can develop freely, which leads to the formation of charming field landscapes. A large part of the park consists of rock formations which alternate with green and floral zones.

The floral zones have been landscaped - in such a way that the establishment of plants has been completely left to Nature. The seed deposits in the earth generate a great variety of plant life. Specialist care ensures that the grounds do not become overgrown. The ecological significance of the area is also demonstrated by the fact that the wader birds have conquered their own wetland biotope and that black alder woodland can be found in the eastern part of the park.

Green areas as a meeting place for all generations and highly diverse activities

From the outset, the design of the Katariina seaside park was intended to create a meeting place for all generations which had something to offer people of all ages and with the most varying interests.

Complete with picnic sites and viewing tower for bird watching

A generously-sized grass area, a playground, fitness equipment, a beach volleyball court, a viewing tower for bird watching and many picnic sites with barbeque facilities are available. Particular attention has been paid to visitors with restricted mobility. The park offers them barrier-free paths and many seating possibilities.

With rock pool and stream through the "Geheimen Garten" (secret garden) to the sea

Included in the park attractions are a unique meditation labyrinth, the sacred place "Anchor Island" (on which relatives can scatter the ashes of their deceased) and also the rock pool, from which a stream leads through the "Geheimen Garten" to the sea.

Katariina seaside park in Kotka – participants involved:

Building owner:
Vesa Salminen
Chair of the Council
City of Kotka
Finland



Landscape architect:
Heikki Laaksonen
City of Kotka
Finnland


Landscape gardeners:
Tomi Uusitalo
Pihat Oy Uusitalo
Siltakylä
Finnland


Honoured by the European Landscape Contractors Association in 2012 with the International ELCA Trend prize "Bauen mit Grün": Included in the attractions of the public Katariina seaside park in the Finnish industrial and port city of Kotka are the rock pool with a stream which leads through the "Geheimen Garten" (secret garden) to the sea.


On the site of a former urban industrial wasteland contaminated with hazardous substances, this public green area presents itself today as an exemplary model: the 20-hectare Katariina seaside park, created through the dismantling and reconstruction of the port and oil terminal in the Finnish city of Kotka. The European Landscape Contractors Association has acknowledged the project with the International ELCA Trend Prize 2012.


The design of the International ELCA Trend Prize "Bauen mit Grün" award-winning Katariina seaside park in Kotka (Finland) incorporates the natural conditions of the location - bare rocks and the coast line - in an optimal way. In the floral zones, Nature itself generates a great variety of plant life.

Contact:
Dr. Hermann J. Kurth
European Landscape Contractors Association
Alexander-von-Humboldt-Straße 4
53604 Bad Honnef
Tel: 02224 7707-10
Fax: 02224 7707-78
E-Mail: H.Kurth@galabau.de