Wivi's Park

Development of the Ebeneser House yard into a communal, functional, and sustainable urban space

The Wivi's park is a development project that invites the city residents and families with children interested in a shared urban space to plan the future of the Ebeneser House yard!

The photographs from the Kindergarten Museum's photo collection include photographs of the Ebeneser House yard from the early decades of the house that show the area's diverse, sensuous natural environment. Over the decades and with the change of operators in the building, the functions of the yard area have reduced, and the yard has turned into a walk-through area, except for the ECEC center’s outdoor play area and during activities in various events. However, the yard has the potential to be an inspiring oasis in the middle of the city environment as it used to be before. The Wivi's park project is trying to bring out this potential!

The joint design phase of the Wivi' park development project of the Ebeneser House yard began with a brief orientation in spring 2021. As a baseline for the project, the Kindergarten Museum implemented a painted mural on the wall bordering the eastern end of the yard together with the children of the Ebeneser ECEC center, their families, and the urban culture association Helsinki Urban Art. The actual joint planning phase, which utilizes experienced experts and landscape design professionals, focused on 2022. At the same time, the community-participating phase of the project was coordinated by MA project coordinator Hanna Pielikko. A compiled report from the joint planning phase is freely downloadable electronically. The implementation phase of the project will take place in stages during the years 2023–2026.

The central theme and basis of the project is eco-social awareness. The concept of eco-social awareness provides tools to consider both social issues and ecologically sustainable limits in all planning and implementation activities. Primarily, the project wants to enable a rich and insightful environment that supports the functional and experiential dimensions of learning for early childhood education-age children, but also for adults. The project respects the boundaries of ecological and social sustainability and a safe space.

The project carries the name of architect Wivi Lönn, the designer of the Ebeneser House. The project's spiral logo takes inspiration from the seashell motif designed by Lönn for the relief of the Ebeneser House. It is a symbol of growth and development. Lönn was known as a glass ceiling breaker, a practical designer, and a developer of facilities for women and children. In her private life, Lönn loved gardening. Respecting her love for education and her architectural heritage, we want to play our part in bringing out an environmental design that involves children, is experiential, and is socially and ecologically sustainable.

The Wivi's park project has been funded by
Finnish Heritage Agency – State grant for innovative projects of professionally managed museums, 2021
Jenny and Antti Wihuri Fund, 2022