A Bridge with No Cars

17:15 - 17:45

La Centrale

The shift toward sustainable mobility isn’t just about electric vehicles — it means redesigning physical infrastructure in favour of active travel and rail-based transit. One of the world’s most discussed examples is taking shape in Finland. At Utopian Hours, architect Tom Osborne (Knight Architects) and Ville Alajoki, Project Manager for the City of Helsinki, present the Kruunusillat (Crown Bridges) project.

Kruunusillat is a system of three bridges connecting central Helsinki to the new island district of Laajasalo: 1.2 kilometres long, Finland’s longest and tallest bridge, with a 135-metre diamond-shaped central pylon (Knight Architects and WSP). The scheme is entirely car-free: it will carry a light rail line — passenger service starts in 2027 — alongside pedestrian and cycle paths, open since April 2026. Osborne and Alajoki explain how they delivered the project ahead of schedule and on budget, using an alliance-based contracting model.

Helsinki

Ville Alajoki Project Manager

City of Helsinki

As project manager for the Crown Bridges (Kruunusillat) project in Helsinki—designed by Knight Architects—Ville Alajoki has been leading the development of a major light rail connection between Laajasalo, Korkeasaari, Sompasaari, and Hakaniemi since 2009.

His role centers on extensive coordination and strategic mediation across numerous teams, design offices, and developers. By maintaining a clear overarching vision and ensuring all contributors have the alignment and expertise required, he has guided to completion one of the most widely discussed urban infrastructure developments in recent years.


London

Tom Osborne Director

Knight Architects

Tom Osborne has specialised exclusively in bridge and infrastructure design for the past eighteen years. His team works at a wide variety of scales, focusing on delivering appropriate, fitting design through a clear understanding of the constraints and close collaboration with the client, engineers and fabricators.

Osborne is passionate about the drive to Net Zero, particularly how infrastructure can instigate sustainable ways of living. He believes bridges play a vital role not only in their connectivity, but in their placemaking – shaping our cities by promoting a modal shift, adding value, increasing density and reducing carbon, through both their object and their outcomes.

Osborne's projects are often on sensitive sites, and put people at the heart of decision-making, leading to inclusive designs which achieve early stakeholder support.
Osborne sits on the ICE's Knowledge Network and the ULI Infrastructure & Development Council. He enjoys working alongside other bridge specialists from engineering, design and fabrication backgrounds to promote the ongoing education, collaboration and development of the field.

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