Kruunusillat

Knight Architects’ competition-winning design for the new Kruunuvuorensilta crossing in Helsinki will be the tallest bridge structure in Finland. With the distinctive diamond form of the 135m-tall pylon it will be an instantly recognisable symbol of this historic capital city.

The 2 x 250m span cable-stayed bridge is the centrepiece of the ambitious Kruunusillat (Crown Bridges) project to connect the city centre with the island suburb of Laajasalo. The project will create a brand-new waterside community connected directly to the heart of Helsinki with sustainable year-round public transport.

The 1.2km-long crossing employs a tall, slender diamond as its central feature – an architectural reference to the historic crown ownership of the bay area. On deck, the cable-stayed form provides a nautical reference to sailing boats and the twin planes of cables create a comfortable and reassuring sense of enclosure.

Having won the international design competition in 2013, Knight Architects and WSP Finland developed the Scheme Design for the City of Helsinki, including extensive wind and environmental modelling to inform the detailed design of parapets, wind barriers and bridge furniture, and remain as client technical advisers. Construction of the crossing commenced in late 2021.