Tammela Stadium has been revealed as this year's winner of the prestigious Finlandia Prize for Architecture.
The 8,000-capacity football stadium, located in the Tammela district of Tampere, was designed by the Helsinki-based JKMM Architects and construction was completed in spring this year.
Yle's foreign correspondent Antti Kuronen selected this year's winner, in keeping with a tradition that the award is chosen by somebody from outside the field of architecture.
"There was such a wow factor at Tammela Stadium, because when we drove by car right up next to the stadium, I stepped out of the car and said, 'Where is the stadium?'," Kuronen said.
The stadium is built inside a residential block of apartments with parking and a retail space underneath.
"Often football stadiums are monuments that people should admire, but Tammela Stadium is made differently, and that was one of the reasons for the decision," Kuronen explained.
Tammela Stadium is the third sports venue to receive the Finlandia award, following the renovation of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 2020 and the construction of a new stand at Rovaniemi's sports field in 2016.
In securing this year's award, Tammela beat the four other finalists; the Hyytiälä Forest Station in Juupajoki, Lamminrahka School in Kangasala, Lastu campus building in Järvenpää, and the refurbishment of the Tapiola Church.
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