“A temporary cultural Biergarten in the historical Turku Cathedral square “

Case Tuomiokirkkopuisto Biergarten and Event Market

Kirkkopuisto Biergarten and Event Market is a temporary restaurant and experience oasis at the Turku Cathedral square. The pop-up project, started in 2020, was revived in 2021 after the client received permission to operate in the area for three more years. The main goal of the project is to activate urban space and to give restaurants the possibility to operate even during the pandemic. Simultaneously, the project creates new ways of claiming public space at a short notice. There are seven restaurants located on-site, and the site serves as a hub for markets, wine and beet fairs as well as concerts, plays, and live discussions. The site plans emphasize the cohesion of the historical park and plaza. In addition to the site plan and the building permission, bars, façades, signage, and lighting were designed. All spaces were designed specifically with accessibility and visual aesthetics in mind. The plans were created in phases so that the area will develop each year, and not all plans will be realized during the first season. The plan will again be revived after the season according to the feedback from clients, entrepreneurs and neighbors. The Biergarten is a prime example of a slowly developing plan – the site will change after the doors open for the first time.