Master thesis “Rewilding the abandoned” is exploring the ways to vitalize vacant buildings with the help of freely growing urban nature.In parallel the thesis is focusing on the opposite of overgrowing - the decaying processes of abandoned buildings. In worked with different research tools that led me to focusing on a case study buildng - Tallinna Linnahall, an abandoned Soviet concert hall in the capital of Estonia. The 90-page theoritical piece is opening,up the background of the concept development. Thesis proje“Rewilding Linnahall” is an intermediate planning concept, that is inspired by simultaneously happening growth and decay in ruins. Keywords: ruins, abandonment, wilderness in urban context, subnature, freely growing vegetation, intermediate use, process-based design, overgrowing, simultaneous growth and decay, vacant and living, designed demolitionct
The impulse for focusing on the natural processes in abandoned buildings came from questioning the borders between interior architecture, architecture and landscape architecture as disciplines. I became inspired by nature in abandoned buildings,how it overgrows and demolishes the manmade borders and how interior and exterior merge. I started wondering, if these processes could also be considered beneficial for the unused space?
The self-sufficient plants growing on unmaintained artificial surfaces are signs of urban wilderness, plants rewilding and vitalizing the abandoned cityscape, slowly making it “natural� again.
So I asked myself, what can I learn from these processes? Could the socalled rewilding process be emphazised and seen as a quality rather than problem? Also, could it inspire an interdisciplinary approach for dealing with the matter of abandoned interiors and exteriors?
Everywhere in Estonia, in countrysides and in towns leftovers from Soviet culture, abandoned post-industrial buildings and millitary structures can be found. The seriousness of this problem is also proven by the fact that EIC (Estonian Environmental Center), that is owned by the state has been funding the demolition of vacant industrial and military buildings of Estonian countrysides since 2014. This kind of abandonment could even be found in the areas of central Tallinn that are being intensively developed like Lutheri, Telliskivi, Volta or even Rotermanni quarter. This proves that the restauration or demolition of these buildings is costly and time-consuming.
My field of interest are vacant concrete and stone structures where overgrowing process is already visible. That is, buildings in the heart of Tallinn that have been abandoned for at least 5 years.
I observed and mapped the overgrowing in different scales to understand how plants grow on artificial surfaces.
Consultations with biologist and ecologists from Ecology Department of Tallinn University taught me what ruderal spieces flourish in Tallinn centre, and how self-sufficient these plants actually are.
The observation and documentation of the ruins over seasons helped me to visualize how fast buildings in Estonian climate actually decay. Water is freezing and melting on the stone and concrete surfaces, forming cracks, wind carries the seeds in those cracks and the plant roots start to contribute the decaying processes.
I also observed the changes in longer period of time. Here is an example of Volta factory building, where underwood has in just 5 years reached the height of 4 meters.
I then observed the changes in ruins over few days. The changes of snow level in the space indicate how much rainwater gets into the building through the vertical openings. I also carried through an (artistic) intervention, enhanced the snow levels in the building even more, to emphasize how easily a vacant space could gain a practical use.
The research led me to defining a concept and the aim the design project. Inspired by simultaneous growth and decay, architecture working in collaboration with nature, I am examining designed demolition as a reverse approach to reconstruction. In addition to that, thesis is valuing free-growing local urban subnature and asking: - Could it become a tool for intermediate-planning? - Or even, if the concept would be developed further, could rewilded abandoned buildings form a network of green pauses in urban cityscape? Because abandonment is result of many different factors it is almost impossible find one universal solution for all the vacant buildings. Therefore I have chosen to focus on Tallinna Linnahall, one of the most dramatic cases of abandonment in Tallinn.
Tallinna Linnahall, a Soviet megastructure, is devided into 3 parts: ice arena, a concert hall and the seaside wing. Linnahall’s history, volume and symbolism make the case unique. Time has proven, that for the city and the state, the building as a whole is too difficult to handle, the renovation and demolition both are costly projects. The thesis project focuses on the most problematic wing – the frontal ice arena, that is meant to be demolished and rebuilt in the same volume.
“Rewilding Linnahall� concept focuses on the changes of spatial qualities of indoor and outdoor and seasonal changes in constantly developing urban landscape. The aim is to enliven the arena before full demolition by creating a so-called ruin park.
Linnahall could today be seen as a unique landscape monument – the interior space is closed for the public but the exterior surface is still actively used. The exterior walls are covered with graffiti and weeds and mosses, at the same time water is dripping in and the building is slowly decaying.
The ice arena (closed in 2009) is in such bad state that according to the latest expertise, it has to be demolished to the ground and built up again by the National Heritage Board special restrictions. The demolition and renovation works have now been postponed into an unknown future.
Thesis project is proposing a phase-by-phase demolition concept to offfer ice arena an intermediate use. Phased demolition could in longer perspective turn out to be more costly than total bulldozing but it might make the matter of waste management easier. Also, it is a step towards the future planning. As the arena gradually opens up for public, the subnature has freedom to flourish inside. The demolition stages could be carried through continously but also in a longer time frame (5-10years)
The structure of the building is quite simple – the steel beams and pillars are carrying the walkable roof and exterior wall. The steel structure is safe to be preserved. Openings would be formed after demolishing the concrete panels one by one, creating openings between the posts. The offered demolition project leaves the visitors a possibility to use the terrace roof throughout all stages.
Before demolition the waste material has to be dismounted. No interior elements are under protection and are in terrible state. Elements such as plastic chairs, lightning beams, electric would be disposed.
stage 1 demolition & growth As the ruin park starts to grow inside out, the main volume of the building remains the same.
stage 2 demolition & growth
stage 3 demolition & growth In case this kind of “temporary” solution turns out to be permanent, the offered demolition project also follows the restrictions of National Heritage Board: – It is allowed to create new openings to the roof – it is allowed ti improve the landscaping of the terrace roof – a function as a public terrace needs to remain.
The biotype for the site was composed following the spontaneous landscape design concept – using fastgrowing native plants that would be as self-sustaining as possible, emphasizing the process rather than a static ideal image. The phased demolition also follows the same concept. First, mosses and lower grass would overgrow the space. As the arena gradually opens up for sunlight but also for rainwaters, the wetland biotype starts to form. In addition to the wetland plants and mosses, several other ruderal spieces growing in the surrounding would most propably start growing in the arena too.
My aim is to offer Linnahall an opportunity for dignified extinction rather than follow the usual practice - creating new parking lots on the sites of demolished buildings. Next to the wild character, the new “park� would offer a quiet get-away from city noise or a shelter from cold sea breezes. The ruin prark would offer new experiences over seasons, growth and demolition phases.The space could also become a venue for open-air events, that could be enjoyable from the tribunes and the roof terrace. During winter, it could even be used for ice skating again. Furthermore, The interim-solution allows to restore the most important part, the concert hall beforehand.
“Rewilding Linnahall” animation: https://vimeo.com/220945038