Turku seeks premium hotel for prime location on the River Aura – development competition now open

The competition is intended for companies in the construction and property sectors.

The aim is to create a new attraction in a prime location on the River Aura, combining an international-standard hotel experience, cultural attractions and services open to everyone. The hotel will complete the cultural complex comprising Turku's new music hall Fuuga, Turku City Theatre and the WAM Museum of Contemporary Art.

“We are now looking for the final piece to complete this magnificent cultural complex on the riverfront,” says Vesa Palander, Director of Business and Economic Development at the City of Turku.

“A high-quality hotel will give visitors to Turku a reason to stay longer and enjoy the city's diverse cultural attractions and services throughout the year. It will also strengthen our ability to attract international tourists, congresses and seminars to the city,” Palander says. 

New services and a connection to the park along the riverfront 

The Turku Riverfront Hotel Competition is intended for companies in the construction and property sectors, or consortia formed by such companies. Participants must have a designated hotel operator committed to meeting international quality standards.  

In addition to the quality of the hotel concept, the competition criteria emphasise high-quality architecture, suitability for the surrounding environment, functionality and feasibility. The design must take into account the landscape along the River Aura and the heritage values of the historic park on Samppalinna Hill. 

The competition site, located at Itäinen Rantakatu 12, has been in temporary use for decades, mainly as a car park. Locals refer to the area as the Spider Site (Hämähäkkitontti), named after a work of environmental art resembling a spider's web on the site's rock face.  

The aim is now to create not only a hotel but also high-quality public space that integrates naturally with the riverfront and provides a route from the riverfront to the park on Samppalinna Hill above the site and to Paavo Nurmi Stadium. In accordance with the competition programme, the hotel development must also include facilities serving all city residents, such as restaurants, cafés and spaces for cultural activities and events.

“The Spider Site has an exceptionally attractive location. The competition and subsequent development will complete the Cultural Waterfront, adding an internationally appealing hotel concept alongside Fuuga and Turku City Theatre. We want the competition to attract ambitious, high-quality proposals that combine distinctive architecture with the unique characteristics of the surrounding environment,” says Sini Ruohonen, Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment and Chair of the competition's evaluation panel.

Local detailed plan to be based on the winning proposal 

Applications to participate in the competition must be submitted by 8 January 2027 at 3:00 pm. The winner will be announced in summer 2027.

Following the competition, an amendment to the local detailed plan will be prepared to enable development on the site. The amendment will be drawn up jointly by the competition winner and the City of Turku. The aim is for the City Council to approve the amended plan in 2028.

The competition winner undertakes to purchase or lease the plot and implement the development in accordance with the winning competition proposal. The plot can be purchased and construction can begin in October 2029 at the earliest.