Nomaji Landscape Architects
Vasikkasaari Nature Trail
Site
Path
Monument
Wildlife
In recent years, Helsinki has opened many of its islands, formerly used by the military, for visitors. Vasikkasaari can be reached by a public water bus or by a private boat. New structures have been built in order to facilitate day trips and to protect the delicate nature of the archipelago.
Cities and towns
National parks
UNESCO sites
UNESCO global geoparks
Main roads
Airports
Cruise ports
Case
Infrastructure
Paved road
Grass
Trees / Forest
River / Ocean
Can big cities offer nature experiences?
The Vasikkasaari island was opened for public in 2019 as part of the Helsinki Maritime Strategy. A nature trail and visiting structures were designed to protect the fragile ecosystem of the island. Also new technology is used for surveillance of nature and visitor numbers, and for sharing information about natural features.
Innovative solutions for the good of nature
Vasikkasaari is situated close to Suomenlinna Fortress Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also on Vasikkasaari, there are historical military structures, but the island just a 15 minute water bus ride away from the city centre is worth visiting for its nature, too. In the design work for the visitor structures, extra attention was put on welcoming visitors with as little disruption to the delicate nature as possible. For example, woodchips were used to enforce the path and a bug hotel fence was created from branches left over from the works. Along the trail there is a small shelter and a picnic terrace with a table and a bench for visitors. The structures were designed as a part of the Urban Eco Islands project, which aims at developing ways to monitor and prevent erosion of the natural sites as visitor numbers increase. Vasikkasaari in Helsinki and an island in Tallinn are serving as pilots in the project.
Key facts
- Location
Kruunuvuorenselkä, Helsinki, Region of Uusimaa in Southern Finland
- GPS points
N60°09'10.6" E25°00'47.5"
- Estimated number of visitors a year
4,000 (water bus connection only during summer)
- Project Owner
City of Helsinki
- Designer
Nomaji Landscape Architects
- Year of construction
2020
- Materials
Wood (larch)
- Project budget
1 M euros
- Landscape type
Coastline, waterscape
- Larger Project Framework:
Urban Eco Islands – Urban and Smart Island Tourism Destinations, joint EU project of Helsinki and Tallinn
- Additional Notes
In the project Urban Eco Islands new technologies are utilised innovatively, like drones for surveillance of the condition of the vegetation, a counter for visitor numbers and a “mobile nature trail” and signage to help notice the natural features of the island and the season.)