Curved pergola structures on the roof, surplus concrete benches in the yard, features of a residential building. The Lincolninaukio parking garage will be built on the landscape of the former Keimola motor stadium in Vantaa. The architecture draws on the history of the area and enriches the cityscape.
Keski-Suomen Betonirakenne Oy (KSBR) is building for SATO Oy and Avain Asunnot a car park in Lincolninaukio, the name of which refers to Curt Lincoln, the legendary founder of the Vantaa Keimola motor stadium. The history of the stadium has also been utilized by the building’s designer, architect Jukka Lahtinen from the Oulu-based Arkkitehtitoimisto HML Oy.
“The building is bordered by a racetrack-like red paving surrounded by a red pergola and pillar alder. The track theme is also visible on the roof of the building, which has 60 parking spaces. There are paintings and pergolas with bends and arches pointing to the racetrack. Insect hotels are hung on the pergolas, and there will be liver grass on the roof”, Lahtinen tells.
Also the investment in recreational facilities is a new feature in car park construction. The bases of the building’s yard benches are made of ecologically surplus concrete, and the seat levels are made of wood. The stands are made up of so-called concrete slats, which are easy to stack on top of each other.
“It is important that the building suits well on residential buildings. The proportions of the windows follow the opening of the neighboring houses. The structure of the façade in assorted colours enlivens the courtyard and offers pedestrians a view”, Lahtinen says.
Innovative and high-quality construcion
Solid expertise and a good imprint of work allowed KSBR to gain the total responsibility construction contract for the three-storey concrete parking garage. The company’s evidence of previous parking construction, for example in Helsinki Postipuisto, is convincing.
Simo Särkelä, KSBR’s Director of Parking Construction, says that the frame system of the Lincolninaukio car park is particularly functional.
“Ecology is important to us also here. With optimized concrete structures, we minimize our carbon footprint, and we also utilize successful and cost-effective solutions for our various stakeholders”, Särkelä says.
The façade of the building is upholstered with tin cassettes with earthy colours. Reddish-brown umbrapatinated concrete is used at the entrance to the courtyard.
The building, which offers 266 parking spaces, serves the residents of several housing companies, for example a rental housing company built by SATO. Arto Aalto, Vice President at SATO Corporation Investments, considers high-quality parking construction important not only from a cityscape point of view but also from the perspective of residents’ comfort.
“KSBR was selected as a builder due to its professional and cost-effective operations and innovation. The location of the building is demanding because there are other buildings nearby. The experience of KSBR is useful here. We also appreciate the company’s sustainable approach”, Aalto says.
Skills for optimizing structures and functions
The Lincolninaukio car park serves the two housing companies of Avain Asunnot. Mauri Puljujärvi, project manager at Avain Rakennuttaja Oy, says that the layering, ecology and suitability of the project for the cityscape were especially important for the company during the planning phase.
“The parking garage rises to a very central location of the block, and several balconies of the apartments are in that direction. In terms of comfort, it is important that the car park sits well in the courtyard”, Puljujärvi says.
According to Puljujärvi, the experienced builder of on-site parking garages KSBR is a natural partner in the project due to its special expertise.
“We value the areas of expertise in which KSBR is a strong player. These include, for example, the ability to optimize structures and functions. KSBR brought good suggestions for improvements to the design, which, among other things, enabled us to increase the number of parking spaces in the building from the original plan”, Puljujärvi tells.
Work in Keimola, Vantaa, will begin in March–April 2022.