Keila has played a key role in leading the song and dance festival tradition in Harju County. On the other hand, the park where the grounds are located is an important bearer of local identity. So, the town wished to replace the outdated stage and connect it with the town as a whole. It was designed to be used also for other events as well as daily activities all year round. This meant a series of bold decisions (a stage suitable for various events, circular audience paths, integrated ice rink for winter) that shaped the outcome we see today (that does not necessarily resemble a traditional stage).
The landscape architecture was based on the idea of blending various forms and structures (stands, dressing rooms, toilets etc) into the landscape, occasionally hiding underground and appearing again in the form of indentations and incisions. The paths, view corridors and functions are drawn into the landscape as a network of elegant curves. It is best viewed in motion with the various landscape vistas opening up and allowing the seemingly centrally positioned stage to create different spatial situations and emotions that are often orchestrated by site-specific landscaping.
Text by: Karli Luik, Johan Tali