Colour, Shade and Geometry by the Sea

Nallikari is one of Oulu’s best-known recreational areas, located on the western shore of Hietasaari and famous for its kilometre-long sandy beach. Just a few kilometres from the city centre, it combines the atmosphere of a seaside destination with playgrounds, green spaces and everyday urban life.

This project brings together several ABAU DESIGN products: NAANTALI benches and sun loungers, as well as Parasol Pergolas that provide shade and a strong architectural element within the landscape.

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Colour plays a big role in the project. The deep blue-green steel (painted in RAL Ocean Blue) used throughout the furniture and pergolas creates a strong visual connection between the different elements. Paired with weathered timber, it brings a bold, contemporary character to a landscape dominated by sea, sand, greenery and open sky.

The NAANTALI collection is particularly at home in environments like this. Its robust timber elements and clean-lined steel frames are designed for demanding public use, while generous proportions give the furniture a relaxed character. The benches create comfortable resting places around the recreational area, while the generous proportions of the loungers invite visitors to stay a little longer – something that feels especially appropriate this close to the beach.

The Parasol Pergolas introduce shade as well as a distinctive architectural element. Their roofs are formed from interconnected steel triangles and wooden planks, creating a modular structure that can grow according to the size and shape of the space. The supporting steel pillars can also accommodate climbing plants where greenery is part of the design.

At Nallikari, the Parasol Pergolas are used both as individual structures and as connected modules. Beside the playground, two pergolas have been joined together, demonstrating the flexibility of the system particularly well. Individual modules can be combined like pieces of a mosaic, allowing the structure to expand from a small shaded corner to a larger or more irregular covered area.

Together, the pergolas and NAANTALI furniture bring colour, comfort and a clear visual identity to a place already made for enjoying the outdoors.