Along Oulu’s Waterfront

Oulu’s Torinranta is a lively waterfront right beside the city’s Market Square – a place where locals and visitors come to walk, meet, shop at the market and spend time by the water. The historic Market Hall and characteristic red storehouses are close by, while Oulu Theatre forms a familiar part of the view across the area.

As part of the renewed Torinranta, twelve new TORINRANTA benches now surround newly planted trees along the waterfront, bringing seating and greenery together in one of Oulu’s busiest public spaces.

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The original concept was created by VSU Maisema-arkkitehdit specifically for this location. Working together, ABAU DESIGN developed the idea further and completely redesigned the steel frame, creating a practical and durable construction suited to production and long-term public use. What began as a site-specific solution has now become TORINRANTA – a new addition to the ABAU DESIGN range.

The waterfront location also placed particular demands on the materials. TORINRANTA combines high-quality oak with a stainless steel frame – a robust pairing selected to withstand wind, moisture and salty air while ageing beautifully in a demanding public environment. The warmth of the oak and the clean character of stainless steel also give the bench a contemporary, understated presence.

TORINRANTA’s square form does more than frame a tree. Seating on all four sides allows people to choose their own direction – towards the city, along the promenade, towards other people or out to sea. It also makes the bench an interesting solution for squares, promenades, parks, courtyards and other public spaces where seating and trees can become part of the same design.