WOOD ARCHITECTURE PARK IN LAHTI 

The Wood Architecture Park in Lahti is a new tourist attraction gradually being constructed in the vicinity of the harbour and the Sibelius Hall. The park includes buildings and constructions designed by the recipients of the International Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award (and in one case, of an architect serving in the Jury). 

Three items have been completed by 2010: the Illuminated Canopy in front of the Sibelius Hall by Kengo Kuma from Japan, the Wooden Spiral in the Niemenkatu roundabout by Richard Leplastrier from Australia, and the Piano Pavilion in Ankkurinranta by Gert Wingårdh from Sweden. The pavilion was designed by Wingårdh in honour of Renzo Piano and follows his style and idea. 

Peter Zumthor from Switzerland has designed a Viewing Terrace on Kariniemi hill, scheduled to be completed in 2011. The 2008 recipient of the International Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award, José Cruz Ovalle from Chile, will design a construction named Aqua on the waterfront, which will also serve to camouflage a pumping station. 

The construction of the Wood Architecture Park is enabled through the co-operation between the Wood in Culture Association and the City of Lahti.