A green space will be built at Riihimäki Railway Square for the Glass Biennial event

The Glass Biennale is being held in Riihimäki this week. To celebrate the event, Riihimäki Railway Square will also be given a festive look for a week. A green space will be created in the square as a contrast to the urban stone surface – a living oasis in the middle of the built environment.

"In addition to beauty, the work takes into account diversity, which creates its own temporary tree orchard in the station square. The green work serves as an experiential installation where people can linger, breathe, even smell and touch different tree species and plants," says Lyti Aaltonen, responsible cultural producer from the City of Riihimäki.

The forest-like work also serves as a welcome message for visitors arriving at the event by train.

The forest work was designed by Floristipalvelu Pikkusydän and will be implemented in collaboration with Harviala Oy.

“The inspiration for the plant choices in the work came from the Finnish landscape. The pines and birches familiar to everyone are paired with garden plants. When you travel on our country's railways, you notice that the Finnish landscape consists of a symbiosis of nature and man-made flora. In an urban environment, even Scots pine has decorative value,” says Sari Kalliokoski from Pikkusydän.

The green work at Rautatietori communicates the possibilities for a greener urban space that increases the number of pollinators and biodiversity. The work is an experiment in bringing green infrastructure to temporary use in urban spaces.

The trees from the work will be distributed to the people of Riihimäki

The work will be erected on Monday, June 2–3 and can be experienced from June 4–8, 2025. At the end of the week, 50 trees will be distributed among the residents of Riihimäki to be planted in their own yards. Various tree species will be distributed, such as apple trees, various conifers and ornamental deciduous trees.

The distribution of trees will be done by drawing lots and you can enter the draw by providing your contact information. with this form. The draw will be held on Monday, June 9th and the winners will be notified personally. You can pick up your tree from Rautatietori (address: Asema-aukio) on Wednesday, June 11th from 17–19 pm. The trees will be distributed in the order of arrival of applicants.

Fifty trees from the work will be planted in Peltosaari.

The remaining 50 trees will be placed in Peltosaari. Tree sponsors are being sought for the trees to be placed in Peltosaari, who would water and take care of the trees during the summer. In early autumn, the trees will be planted in the yards of housing companies located in Peltosaari and in public areas. You can register to become a tree sponsor at the Peltosaari co-development workshop on June 11 or directly to Project Manager Riikka Uusikulku, riikka.uusikulku@riihimaki.fi, tel. 040 193 0661.