NEON's Olio pavilion chosen for Partolanaukio ahead of 2028 tram launch

Tampereen Raitiotie Oy announced in a press release on ePressi that Olio, a walk-through steel pavilion by artist duo NEON, will be installed at Partolanaukio in Pirkkala and is scheduled to be in place before tram services from Sorin aukio to Partola and from Kauppi campus to Ruotula begin in August 2028.

The pavilion is made of asymmetrically arranged, shaped steel plates that connect at the top. Painted in graduated shades of red and pink, it shifts appearance with the viewer’s angle and offers a welcoming, walk-through presence among the square’s planned grid of trees. It is intended to become a recognisable meeting point for passengers and visitors.

NEON is a collaboration between architect Mark Nixon and visual artist Viliina Koivisto, who have produced large-scale public works in the UK, the US, France and Finland. Koivisto said, "We wanted to design a work that is playful and easily approachable," and that it felt meaningful to influence Partolanaukio’s atmosphere and future prospects.

The commission came after a combined open portfolio call and a parallel design competition. Organisers received 76 applications and invited three candidates for the parallel brief – Laura Könönen, Jarno Vesala and NEON – ultimately selecting NEON’s proposal for implementation.

A multidisciplinary art selection group made the final choice. Members included Antti Haukka and Pekka Sirviö (Tampereen Raitiotie Oy), Vesa Ylitapio and Karoliina Karpiomaa (Pirkkala municipality), Reetta Gröhn-Soininen (Finnish Artists' Association), Tiina Lehikoinen-Musturi (Tampere Artists' Association), Janne Kauppinen (Tampere Art Museum) and Heini Orell and Laura Lehtinen (Frei Zimmer Oy).

Tampereen Raitiotie oversees the tram art programme, which has involved dozens of artists and projects integrated into both vehicles and trackside sites. The commission follows earlier temporary children's artworks and murals installed along the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram route earlier children's works and bridge-fence murals added in May as part of the tram project.