The renewal of the Eliel Square and Station Square area is currently in city planning phase and the aim is to find a high-quality solution for both the new buildings and the outdoor spaces – while respecting the valuable history of the area. The ambition is to design a safe and pleasant pedestrian city centre with a wide variety of services that increases the attractivity of the whole city centre, when completed. The New Eliel project is part of a larger renewal of the surroundings of the Helsinki Central Railway Station.
The design process is led by Elielinaukion kehitys Ltd together with the City of Helsinki. The architectural competition organised in 2021 was won by Norwegian architect company Snøhetta, currently the project’s principal designer, whose proposal Klyyga works as a base for the design.