A Landmark Route Around Lake Jyväs
Rantaraitti is a popular lakeshore trail that winds nearly 13 kilometres around Lake Jyväs, connecting residential areas, campuses, sports facilities, and cultural landmarks. Thanks to the Kuokkala Bridge, the trail can be enjoyed in smaller sections, making it accessible for walkers, cyclists, and micromobility users alike. Its popularity demanded an upgrade to the aging lighting system — and the City of Jyväskylä sought a solution that balanced continuity with modern performance.
A Firefox’s Tail in Light
The new lighting poles retain the familiar russet-toned aesthetic of the originals while introducing modern efficiency and design refinement. The warm luminaires highlight the textured brown shafts, creating a continuous shoreline ribbon of light. Residents have described the glowing line as organic and dynamic, “like the tail of a firefox” sketching across the lake’s edge.
Lighting Design with Depth
Lighting Designer Elisa Hillgen shaped the project from the start. She defined the pole dimensions, selected the luminaires, and performed detailed illumination analysis. Each pole combines a standard luminaire with an additional spotlight to highlight surrounding trees or landmarks. The colour of these floodlights can be adapted for seasons or events, removing the need for difficult-to-maintain ground-level lighting.
Elisa also introduced decorative shaft lighting. Working with Tehomet’s Design Manager Sami Huuskonen, the team cut rhythmic water-pattern motifs into every second pole. Behind the cut-outs, colourful acrylic sheets and LED strips create a vibrant effect. These components are installed on a sledge inside the shaft, enabling quick maintenance without dismantling the pole.
COR-TEN®: The Beauty of Controlled Rust
The new poles are fabricated from COR-TEN® weathering steel, offering resilience, sustainability, and a distinctive reddish-brown patina. This self-regenerating surface is highly resistant to vandalism or environmental wear: sanding removes any damage, and the natural oxide layer restores itself without paint or varnish.
COR-TEN® is already familiar in Jyväskylä’s urban landscape, used in projects such as Lutakko Harbour and the Rantaraitti signposts. Choosing it again strengthened both design continuity and lifecycle performance.
Impressive Scale and Craftsmanship
Rising to 4.5 metres with a bold rectangular profile (330 x 230 mm), the poles are robust statements of design and engineering. Manufactured at Tehomet’s Kangasniemi facility, they were delivered pre-fitted with LED elements to ease installation. By the end of the multi-year project (2021–2023), 120 poles will line the Rantaraitti route, providing stylish, durable, and sustainable illumination for decades to come.
A City Proud of Its Light
For Jyväskylä — often referred to as Finland’s “City of Light” — lighting is more than infrastructure; it is identity. According to Mikko Maunula, Construction Engineer at the City, the upgrade has been well received by residents. As Hillgen reflects:
“The aim was to respect the original concept while embracing LED technology and COR-TEN® durability. At the same time, we brought the route to life with patterns and tree illumination. The feedback confirms we succeeded.”
Project Details
- Location: Jyväskylä, Finland
- Construction year: 2021–23
- Used in: Park lighting
- Designers: Elisa Hillgen, Sami Huuskonen
- Photographer: Ilpo Aalto
Luminaire models
- Route lighting: Weef, OLV344 132-0649 27W, optics R65
- Floodlight: Griven, Ruby MC AL5249 RGBW, optics ME 23°
Materials
- Steel elements: Weatherproof COR-TEN® steel
Engineering & Design
- Electrical design: Juhani Saari, Nodeon Finland Oy
- Pole structure design: Matti Mikkonen, Joonas Pesonen, Destia
Interviewees for this story
- Mikko Maunula, Construction Engineer, City of Light, Jyväskylä
- Elisa Hillgen, Lighting Designer, City of Light, Jyväskylä
- Sami Huuskonen, Design Manager, Tehomet Ltd.
English 
Finnish