Härmälä idea competition

Our proposal Huili received a shared victory on October 10, 2025 in the idea competition for a new residential and camping area in Tampere’s Härmälä. The competition, organised by the city of Tampere, sought ideas for transforming the Härmälä camping area and its surroundings located on the shores of lake Pyhäjärvi.

The concept of Huili (rest, break, relaxation) draws inspiration from old-time villa life, centered around living and staying in the midst of nature, the restorative power of nature, community spirit and the spaces, services and shared-use facilities that encourage it. Our landscape-oriented approach, where the starting point of design lies in landscape and urban nature networks, emphasizes Härmälä’s local strengths and character by enhancing the area’s green corridors and recreational opportunities. In our proposal we highlight old layers of the landscape in the form of a landscape park and repeat the open and community-creating block structure typical of old Härmälä.

New construction consists of two different sub-areas: Härmälä villa quarter (residential area) and Härmälä Huilikylä (camping area). The construction is adapted to the landscape so that it does not stand out above the landscape. In the distant view, the character of the area does not change, but the wooded and natural appearance is preserved. The rocky and wooded ridge of Lepola park forms a handsome forested back for the Härmälä villa quarter and the camping area located in the Lepola landscape park. Preserving the park and adapting to the terrain are the main goals of the plan, and as few trees as possible will be cut down. The width and naturalness of the coastal forest will be improved. Between the ridge and the shore, a network of historically valuable open areas remains, intertwining with the structure of the camping area and villa blocks. A landscape path circles the open areas, confining new construction to the eastern part and allowing extensive park areas, open views and space for rest and relaxation, typical of the villa coast.

Inspired by the traditional blocks of wooden houses in Härmälä, planned in the 1930s, the villa blocks form a communal and green neighbourhood. The new blocks are denser and taller closest to Nuolialantie street, thinning out and getting smaller towards the shore. The ribbon-like block structure forms large, connected courtyards and enables long lines of sight towards the lake from both the courtyards and the apartments. The block structure is both airy and communal. The green, common courtyards are bordered by simple-shaped, pitched-roof, 2–6-storey buildings, offering apartments of various styles, prices and sizes. The flourishing yards evoke memories of villa gardens of the past; you can relax in a shrub hut, cultivate in a greenhouse or admire the beauty of nature in a yard swing. The villa quarter is a car-free neighborhood where children can safely play on residential streets and have adventures in the courtyards. The camping area and the shore are also protected from car traffic. The design solutions are based on the area’s existing street connections from Nuolialantie, taking into account the arrangements for the upcoming tram line.

The Lepola landscape park will house campsite functions and public services. The buildings are small-scale, and the campsite’s cottage accommodation follows the block structure of the villa quarter. Elements of the Lepola villa landscape park will be preserved as part of the campsite and the developing park. Communal cottage courtyards and nature areas alternate, creating diverse views and modular building complexes. The valuable areas identified in the ecological survey be spared from construction. The park’s open space will be developed for more diversity, and the flying squirrel connections running across the park will be strengthened into four wooded green fingers.

At the Härmälä campsite, you can stay overnight all year round, relax in nature and experience the different seasons and the feel-good environment of the lake landscape close to the city. Recreational opportunities and activities are within arm’s reach, and you can stay in the cottages and camping area during the summer season and in the Lepola villa all year round. Café and restaurant services, activities, equipment rental and saunas offer spontaneous opportunities for recreation. In keeping with the old landscape park, activities such as play are given space and opportunities, but kept unprogrammed, stimulating the imagination. The structures and tree trunks along the park trails, the designated areas for hut construction and the playing fields on park lawns are an invitation to play.

Huili is experimenting with housing concepts related to alternating use and the sharing economy; the modular cottages in the campsite can be rented out as short-term workspaces, guest rooms, student apartments or other seasonal housing during the off-season. This will further diversify the area’s housing supply and make the campsite more profitable. The community houses of the villa blocks, Huili and Lepo, are also located by the campsite so that they can be used by both residents and those staying at the campsite. In addition to residents and tourists, everyone is welcome to relax in Härmälä’s Huili. The Huili recreation oasis is a new attraction in the Härmälä district, bringing new, diverse services along the future tram line.