The assigned area seems to show the many uncertainties that usually characterize an “impulsive “ growth, as it consists of an urban conglomerate still organized, for the most, by “independent” areas, “portions” of town that have consolidated through independent processes, “grazing each other, but never touching”, neither influencing each other for they lack of attractiveness, or “magnetic power”.
Given to its rapid growth, the actual urban plant boasts vast empty spaces that, unfortunately, qualify more as “indefinite spaces” rather than “ physiological pauses” among built areas.
“Retrieving the territory” through a planning that would allow the whole city to evolve, expand, transform, regenerate is crucial to succeed in implementing a new vision, and represents the decisive requirement for any development model. By attaining to this concept, the whole city may get back its glamour and be recognized as an “whole” that gather exciting complexities, more than just a mere addition of architectural/urban episodes.
The urban structure is, thus, imagined as an homogenous background capable to hold and convey urban forces of different kind. In this sense, the necessity to establish reciprocal interactions is matched with a vision in which that interaction among different parts/factors is more than just a mere goal: its is, rather, the result of a comprehensive program aimed to renew the old bounds by impressing them fresher ideas and brand new values. To this end, an open-minded, flexible approach is necessary, so to allow for it to be easily applied/replied in different contexts and at different levels without declaring any preference of direction, neither starting or arrival points.
Mobility rationalization and optimization is another key factor in our proposal. Getting rid of the complexity and troubles related to the flows, require us to establish new hierarchies: in fact, rather than obey the logic of an “arterial” road, our project opt for the creation of a ring that would efficiently serve different areas of the city, and will meet the expectations of different target users (bikers, pedestrians, drivers, etc.) Besides, the ring allows for that “sense of unity” the assigned area seems to ask for.
The project has been analyzed from three different aspects: location, proportions, reciprocal interconnections and connection with the sea.
A) the wharf area, north of Linahall, dedicated to ferries/boats from/to Helsinki: commercial orientation, limited space, intimately bound to the sea it overlooks on.
B) the east area, next to the docks: the largest of the three, strong character, amazing view
C) the south area: parking, rows of trees, keen urban value
Our project consist of a variety of solutions that obey a unitary approach. Is the B zone the one that catalyze most of the attention: here, its urban character melt with landscape suggestions, offering the chance of multiple interpretations: a vast platform, organized by a few, key lines is lifted, slid, slit and sunk till it’s submerged by the water.
The tides and their floods contribute to add further glamour to the place: the sea’s growth and withdraw, even the slightest, reveal or submerge portions of the public space. Changeability and versatility are perfectly blended. A wide range of activities could be host in this area, nothing has been defined: fish market, public events, concerts: the gentle sloops that characterize it allow for different use: seating areas, wind shelter, etc.)
The area is marked by a lighting system made by sleek poles, like flower stems, arranged on the surface, in an apparent, casual way: still, perfectly vertical, or gently bent as if the wind is blowing. Their presence becomes a leit motiv, and inspire the design of the other portions of the area. In fact, in the southern area (C) the lighting system gets predominant: here we find a more extensive use of the trees, allocated with ( apparent) casualty, among which room is left for the lighting poles. The green area is pulled back and makes room for mobility paths, parking and bike rental areas, tourist info point.
Those slim lampposts are also featured in the north area (A): allocated along one only row, to optimize , and emphasize, the division among the flows in an area which is strongly influenced by the its touristic attractiveness.
