News

Lappset Prize to Landscape Architect Johanna Tuokko

In her Master's thesis, Tuokko investigates how virtual landscape modeling can be utilized in the participation of spatial planning.
Virtuaalimalli maisema-arkkitehti Johanna Tuokon tutkimuksesta, kohteena Uunisaari
Virtual model for Uunisaari, Helsinki was one of the main research sites.

In urban planning, it is important that stakeholders in the region are involved in the design process. In this way, valuable information is obtained about the design area, which contributes to making the design solutions more user-oriented by considering the needs of the participants. However, plan drawings, maps, schematic drawings, visualizations and physical miniature models are not easily understood and read by all involved.

In her Master’s thesis ‘Participating in a Virtual Landscape’, landscape architect Johanna Tuokko explains how virtual modeling can be utilized in the involvement of spatial planning and how it can improve spatial perception ability.

According to the Lappset Committee, the thesis is topical. ‘The author has taken over a complex subject and made extensive use of international research literature and case study method. The work is a valuable opening for discussion about the virtual landscape’, the choice is reasoned.

Virtuaalimallinnus näyttää suunniteltavan kohteen eri vuodenaikoina ja sääolosuhteissa.
The thesis investigates how virtual modeling can improve spatial perception ability and take into account, among other things, the effect of seasons and weather conditions.
Maisema-arkkitehti Johanna Tuokko sai Lappset-stipendin diplomityöstään.

The findings of the thesis present that virtual modeling has a positive effect on participation, but more detailed research is required on what dynamic features and what kind of elements virtual landscape models should include in order to improve spatial perception ability and the experience of influencing.

Thus, Tuokko presents questionnaire research methods in which the dynamic properties of the virtual model would be divided into separate factors to be studied further. This would allow a closer examination of which features of the virtual landscape model could potentially contribute to the perceptibility of the plans and which in turn would not.

The Lappset prize is given to the best master’s thesis in landscape architecture and it is awarded each year to a meritorious student in the Landscape Architecture. The prize is 2,000 euros and is donated by Lappset Group Oy.

The supervisor of the work was professor Anssi Joutsiniemi and advisors Juanjo Galan, Lauri Lemmenlehti and Henna Fabritius.

More information:

Johanna Tuokko, johanna.tuokko@wsp.com

Professor Anssi Joutsiniemi, anssi.joutsiniemi@aalto.fi

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

People on a wavy paved rooftop square with a tall white clock tower under a cloudy sky
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Näytös/Näyttely26 – A celebration of fashion and textiles took over Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi

The Lasipalatsi square in the heart of Helsinki served as the main stage for Aalto University’s annual fashion show on Thursday, 28 May.
Four blurred portraits of men in different shirts and jumpers, shown side by side
Research & Art Published:

Four physicists receive significant funding from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation

The grants are used to study things like overheating quantum computers and early-stage water condensation on surfaces
Various circular samples on white cards, including green, yellow, and beige, with a sprig of green leaves.
Research & Art Published:

Applications open for Innovation Postdoc in Bioeconomy

A fully funded, 12 month career track to turn your doctoral discoveries into a bioeconomy startup. Launching autumn 2026.
Grey stone stock exchange building facade with tall windows and flags reading BÖRS and PÖRSSI at the entrance
Press releases, Research & Art Published:

Finland ranks among Europe’s top investing nations, study finds

Nearly half of Finnish households now invest in stocks or mutual funds, according to a new study from Aalto University.