Private Art Park
A modern, nature-inspired art park
Location: Ii
Year: 2022–
Size: approx. 1400 m²
The residents are passionate about Finnish art, and they wanted this appreciation to be reflected in their outdoor spaces as well. As you walk from the house towards the park, you first encounter Sanna Koivisto’s bronze sculpture “Aurinkotyttö”, which is also featured in the Ii Riverside Garden project. Continuing along the path to the art park, a large steel swan sculpture stands by the riverbank, part of MarkArt Innovations' Finland 100 collection.
Throughout the park, various artworks are displayed, many of which were inspired by surplus materials found in a metal workshop’s storage. The landscape designer proposed and repurposed these materials, transforming them into flower containers, artistic poles, pergola structures, mirrored arches, and circular installations.
The homeowner is also a skilled artist, and he created a cowboy sculpture from rebar, which now sits under a shelter. He is currently working on a life-sized horse sculpture, using the same crafting technique.
The art poles feature steel spheres that reflect the colors and lights of the sky, as well as the surrounding landscape, including the nearby river. In the evening twilight, LED lights inside the spheres create playful shadows on the sand.
The lady of the house built a swing next to the shelter, which is a favorite spot for the grandchildren. The shelter’s green roof is home to Siberian poppies, which thrive in the environment. The park was designed with pollinators in mind, replacing a traditional lawn with meadow flowers in both garden beds and wildflower zones.
A massive embankment was entirely planted with perennials, creating a stunning floral display along the adjacent sand road. The planting plan evolved during the implementation phase, as not all selected perennials were available at the time. The embankment measures approximately 45 meters in length, 6 meters in width, and 1.5 meters in height, ensuring a breathtaking mix of perennials and ornamental grasses.
The art park culminates in a circular area beyond the pergola walkway, where a sea of tulips blooms in spring, followed by Siberian poppies in summer. A low, rusted steel wall curves around the space, with a golden mirror mounted on it, doubling the visual effect of the surrounding flowers and greenery.
After pictures of project
Before pictures of project
