Rewilding Linnahall: project

FIELD OF INTEREST

VACANT SPACE

BUILDING

OVERGROWN

NEW QUALITY

1,5 YEARS

NATURE OVERGROWING ARTIFICIAL

ABANDONED FOR 5+ YEARS

DEMOLISHED SPACE

40 YEARS

CONCRETE AND STONE RUINS IN TALLINN CENTRE

URBAN GREENERY MASTER THESIS

REWILDING THE ABANDONED

MAPPING

VACANT BUILDINGS interior / exterior artificial / natural vacant / growing

The idea of working with combination of nature and artificial space came from questioning the borders between the disciplines of interior design, architecture and urban design. Introducing layers of nature into a built environment creates a physical link between landscape and interior architecture, which may question the borders of these disciplines. The evolutionary development of our sense of space happened in wilderness without unequivocal borders; therefore I believe that breaking out from the predetermined borders of today's urban environment encourages freedom of spatial interpretation and imagination.

Master thesis “Rewilding the abandoned” explores the qualities of different natural layers in urban context, examining unmaintained abandoned spaces as a ground for urban wilderness.

Inspired by simultaneous growth and decay of abandoned spaces - architecture working in collaboration with nature, the thesis is introducing a designed demolition as a reverse approach to reconstruction and a tool for opening vacant buildings up for public.

Vacant spaces, are that are usually seen as mistakes of urban planning, are proven to be approriate ground for intermediate use use, experiments, developing alternative spatial concepts, but also for self-seeding urban wilderness. Bringing those aspects together, “Rewilding the Abandoned” is a process-based concept which emphasizes the growth of natural layers in unmaintained spaces order to offer vacancy a new quality.

Abandoned buildings in Tallinn centre

Student: Andrea Tamm Estonian Academy of Arts Interior Architecture Department Supervisors: Keiti Kljavin, Leena Torim, Edina Dufala-Pärn, Hannes Praks, Kärt Ojavee 2017

Tiiu Koff, Marco Casagrande, Veronika Valk, Eik Hermann, Karli Luik, Ralf Tamm, Riin Ehin, Anna-Liisa Unt, Rachel Armstrong, Ahti Sepsivart, Tõnu Tunnel Thank You!

01

snow / rain level changes in ruins in three days

seasonal changes in ruins and vacant buildings

Volta factory building (Tööstuse 4fF) 2012 / 2017

INTERVENTION shoveling snow into an abandoned military building. Using snow as a natural medium, the aim was to blur the exterior-interior borders and offer a new quality for the vacant space.

CHANGES IN RUINS IN DAYS, SEASONS AND YEARS

CONTRIBUTING NATURAL PROCESSES

OBSERVATION

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

CASE STUDY

URBAN RUDERAL PLANTS. GROWTH AND DECAY

EMPHAZISING THE NATURAL PROCESSES

ruderal plants on abandoned surfaces

NATURE

BUILDING

overgrowing in different scales

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

URBAN WILDERNESS

02

DEMOLITION, GROWTH DESIGN PROJECT

REWILDING LINNAHALL

03

INTERIM USE “Rewilding Linnahall” is an alternative intermediate-planning approach for Tallinna Linnahall – a symbolic abandoned concert hall in Tallinn, Estonia. The thesis project is focusing on a Ice Arena wing, that is planned to be fully demolished and rebuilt in same volume. xsThe concept, inspired by the natural processes taking place in ruins, uses partial demolition to offer best possible growth conditions for ruderal plants. The concrete terrace roof and limestone exterior walls of the ice rink will be demolished gradually and the arena will be opened up for public again. The constantly changing space would offer a new experience over seasons, growth and demolition phases. As the interior and exterior merge, the light and rainwater conditions in the former ice arena improve, the “rewilding process” becomes more visible and plants slowly start to contribute in the demolition process.

Urban planning is a complicated actor-phased process, where the cities are in constant change. The intermediate planning solution in a case study project “Rewilding Linnahall” focuses on the changes of spatial qualities of indoor and outdoor, seasonal changes and time in constantly developing urban landscape. The project is from the start designed to be impermanent - the processes of growth and decay implement on changes in time, rather than creat-

ing a fixed spatial solution. This also corresponds to the fact, that today the future of the building remains indistinct and the start of the reconstruction project is postponed.

Tallinna Linnahall: former concert hall and ice arena plot: 42 818 m2 construction volume: 247 320 m2 seats in ice hall: 3000 seats in concert hall: 5300 Ice Arena closed in 2009 Concert hall closed in 2012

BUILDING

OVERGROWN

NEW QUALITY

Photos of the ice arena: Tõnu Tunnel / sketches: Andrea Tamm, Ahti Sepsivart / plants of interest: Tiiu Koff Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

Linnahall was built for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The architects of Linnahall are Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, interior architects Ülo Sirp and Mariann Hakk. Linnahall included a concert hall and an ice rink but also a dance hall, cafeterias, exhibition halls and hundreds of square meters of walkable roofs and terraces on top of it.

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 for many different free-time activities.

The building is slowly decaying, the rainwater is dripping in, the exterior walls are covered with graffiti and weeds and mosses have started to overgrow the pavement.

In the end of year 2016, The Tallinn City Government announced that the disused Linnahall entertainment complex, is to be renovated into a concert hall and the former ice arena will be turned into conference centre with 2,500 seats. Due to different problems and disagreements the start of renovation works remains unknown.

All the different functions are spread out over the large site.

The frontal stairs of the building take the visitor on a platform – the roof of the ice rink – also built over the railway lines that used to connect the industrial areas with the harbour.

The ice arena is today in such bad state that according to the latest expertise, it has to be demolished to the ground and built up in same volume, according to the Heritage Protection special restrictions. Although the steel structure of the arena is safe, the terrace roof and the exterior walls are leaking.

The reconstruction of the ice rink part has to follow the historical planning, volume and form, some smaller changes in exterior details are allowed, whereas no interor elements need to be renovated or restored.

The building quality of Linnhall is rather poor because it was built in a great hurry by military, not the professional builders - the construction works started only 4 years before opening (Karp, 2017). This project focuses on the most problematic, the frontal ice arena wing.

This part of the building was built as an ice arena, the tribunes around the ice rink are built together with the structural columns and can not be demolished seperately. It has been difficult to find a new practical use for tribunes and therefore for the whole space. The full demolition is also planned to rebuilt it as a conference hall.

The function of the roof as a public terrace needs to remain. It is allowed to create new openings to the roof and improve the landscaping of the terrace roof according to the National Heritage Board special restrictions for Linnahall (2016).

BACKGROUND

SITUATION TODAY

FUTURE PLANNING

LINNAHALL WAS BUILT IN 1980

ABANDONED, DECAYING

DEMOLITION AND REBUILDING

INTERMEDIATE USE CONCEPT FOR THE ICE ARENA: “REWILDING LINNAHALL” , USING DEMOLITION AS A DESIGN TOOL

stage 1

stage 2

stage 3

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

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lightning systems, electric cords

around 3000 plastic chairs

steel posts in the exterior walls

board of ice rink

suspended ceiling

steel beams above the ice rink Steel beams and pillars are carrying the walkable roof. The state of the steel structure is safe to be preserved and used. The thickness of the concrete roof is only around 630mm, there is no insulation layers.

Due to poor building quality the whole interior is in a bad conditions.

The interior elements are rusting, the surfaces are covered in mold.

Main elements that form the waste material mass are the plastic chairs, suspended cealing and lightning systems.

REMAINING STRUCTURE

REMOVED WASTE MATERIALS STAGE 0 - DISMOUNTING

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conrete slabs steel beams limestone wall concrete tribunes steel columns

5.5 rooftop 0.0

0.7 ice arena entrance -2.67 ice rink

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

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STAGE 1 DEMOLITION / GROWTH

ROOF

Concrete bench structures are removed. The benches on the roof need to be renovated or replaced with copies after the renovation.

Demolished concrete slabs, fallen into the ice arena create ground material and landscape for the ruderal plants.

EXTERIOR WALL

Openings are cut into the exterior walls.The limestone gravel can eb used, together with soil as a ground material for ruderal plants. Waste material is used for levlling the height differences of the site.

INTERIOR WALLS

All the interior partition walls of the ice arena are demolished.

SOIL

Soil is brought into the space to cover around 50cm of the middle ice rink area.

01 demolition plan

PLANT SEEDS

First plants to grow are most likely mosses that are growing on the exterior surfaces already.

Ruderal plants are seeded. Seeds also spread wind, insects, birds and humans.

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

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STAGE 2 DEMOLITION / GROWTH

ROOF

Roof openings are extended, the materia is recycled and could be used on neighbouring construction sites. The area of walkable roof reduces as the interior gradually opens up.

EXTERIOR WALLS

Exterior walls are fully demolished.The ice arena is accessible from the original entrance on roof terrace level and from the ground level. The demolished material

could be used for levelling or reused elsewhere. The limestone gravel is also a good ground material for the alvars plants.

PLANTS

The interior will be opened up more to the sunlight and rainfalls, that raise the water level in the middle part of the arena, which will allow growth of the next generation of vegetation of wetland plants.

02 demolition plan

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

STAGE 3 DEMOLITION / GROWTH

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entrance to the concert hall

ROOF

Finally the terrace roof will be demolished almost fully, but the terrace and the main stairs to the ice arena are still accessible. The paths are left above the ice rink leaving the possibility to explore the indoor park from the terrace level or walk over the building to the seaside.

PLANTS

The wetlland plants like common reed could even reach a height of 3 meters for the thrird year. By the time the ice arena wing will be opened up fully with the third stage of demolition, the interior is already “flourishing� - that is containing the possible flora suitable for the seaside climate and daylight conditions. For the third year, the underwood could already reach to the height of 2,5 - 3 meters.

03 demolition plan

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

5.5 rooftop

0.0 street level

0.7 ice arena entrance

5.5 rooftop 0.0

-2.67 ice rink

0.7 ice arena entrance -2.67 ice rink

STAGE 3 2,5 -3 years

STAGE 2 1,5-2 years

STAGE 1

STAGE 1

6-12 months

0-6 months

STAGE 2 1-1,5 years

STAGE 3 2-2,5 years 2,5m

1m 0,5m 0,1m

VEGETATION

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interest Description Plant of interest The ice rink area will be gradually covered with local vegetation.

The applica-Description Plant of Habitat ble vegetation biotype was composed following the concept of spontaneous landscape design – using fast-growing native plants that would be as PLANT DESCRIPTION PLANTOFOFINTEREST INTEREST self-sustaining as possible. The biotype is formed following the idea of proCan grow on marginsMore and than boggy ground, 30damp species in More than 30 species in cess-based design, creating an urban green area, that is constantly changing. singly, in clumps or ingenus denseCarex stands.

They are growing in one of genus Carex growing inCarex Sedges sp Carex sp the dominant plant groups Estonia.in wetland habitats with a Due to the location at the seashore between the limestone walls the micro-cli-Estonia. water depth of up to 50 cm. Carex species are used Carex sp landscaping and in sustainable landscaping mate in the building is rather humid. Therefore the thesis is offering biotype in natural Sedgesas replacements for lawns. Some species require Sedges inherent to wetlands for the area. The concept of wetland is also referring to the history of the site and the freezing and melting waters would offer diverse wet conditions, others are drought tolerant. Propagation is by seed or division in spring. experiences for the visitors throughout the year.

3m

Typha latifolia

Common Reed

Common Cattail, Bulrush (Reedmace)

2m

Common cattail 1m

1st year

yellow iris common arrowhead Sagittaria sagitsedges rough horsetail tifolia

2nd year

Aesthetic considera Photo

HABITAT species have damp been used CanCarex grow ofonseveral margins and boggy ground, as ornamental landscapes singly, in clumps oradditions in denseinstands.

They for are one of interesting, colorful,habitats foliage with a the the dominant plantsometimes groups in wetland anddepth seedheads. water of up to 50 cm. Carex species are used in natural landscaping and in sustainable landscaping as replacements for lawns. Some species require wet conditions, others are drought tolerant. Propagation is by seed or division in spring.

Carex of several species have b as ornamental additions in land the interesting, sometimes colo and seedheads.

in summer CanThe growleaves in stillare to bluish-green slow water flow.

Very fast in and brownish in autumn.rhizomes.

Flowers are expanding via underground The dense substantial and paleample to deep purple growth habit provides cover and in habitat colour.amphibians and birds. for small

The leaves are bluish-green in s and brownish in autumn. Flowe substantial and pale to deep pu colour.

A tall, fast growing rhizoA tall, fast growing rhizoExpanding Typha latifolia Common Cattail via underground rhizomes, but also are perennial emer-shifts tomaceous perennial emerprolific seeders. Theytomaceous respond well to moderate gent grows ineffected dense by gent plant, grows in dense in water depth but can be plant, detrimentally Typha latifolia stands. or deeper inundation. stands. long periods of dry conditions Height up to ample 2.5m cover and Height up to 2.5m The dense growth habit provides

Leaves via being tall and narrow, providing Expanding underground rhizomes, but also are visual interestThey and respond textural variation.

Their shifts prolific seeders. well to moderate flowerdepth stalksbutprovide visualeffected by in water can beadditional detrimentally longinterest. periods of dry conditions or deeper inundation.

Typhagrowth specieshabit become dominant TheIfdense provides amplethe cover and plantforform longer is contrast and habitat smallnoamphibians and birds. instead leads to a visually uniform stand.

Leaves being tall and narrow, p visual interest and textural variat flower stalks provide additional interest.

If Typha species become domin plant form no longer is contrast instead leads to a visually unifor

Grows on the shallow edgesoutofofwaterbodies or in Grows the water with Grows out of the waterSagittaria with sagitpersistently inundated shallows such asbright ditches and very characteristic very characteristic bright Common Arrowhead tifolia retention ponds. Plantgreen is tolerant to contaminants arrow shaped leaves, green arrow shaped leaves, and has potential foralso increased water quality. produces floating and also produces floating and submerged leaves. submerged leaves.Sagittaria sagitifolia Height up to 0.9m Height up to 0.9m

Leaves haveshallow bright edges colour ofand interestingor in Grows on the waterbodies shape inundated shallows such as ditches and persistently retention ponds. Plant is tolerant to contaminants and has potential for increased water quality.

Leaves have bright colour and shape

In addition to the wetland plants and mosses, there are several other spieces Can grow in still to slow Very fast up in Thewater tallestflow. native grass The tallest native grassPhragmites up Phragmites that might easily start growing in the location (table above: from lower to expanding via underground dense to 3 m.rhizomes.

Occurs inThe small to 3 m. Occurs in small australis australis higher plants).

Common Reedhabit providesclumps growth ample but cover and habitat readily forms clumps but readily forms

Common Reed

Aesthetic considerations Habitat

for small amphibians dense and birds. stands. Leaves are dense stands. Leaves are smooth and taper to sharply smooth and taper to sharply australis Phragmites pointed tips pointed tips

Common Reed

Common Cattail, for small amphibians and birds.

Bulrush habitat (Reedmace)

Common Arrow3rd year head

Common Arrowhead

WETLAND PLANT HEIGHTS

mosses

rough horsetail

ivy

clover

goosefoot

fireweed

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017

fern

willow

mountain ash

tions

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PLANNING N

Photo Linnahall is a huge and complex structure. Time has proven, that for Tallinn, the

en used apes for building as a whole is too much to handle, the renovation and demolition both are ul, foliage costly projects. Therefore, a smaller scale mid-planning could be an impulse for

mmer are le in

viding n. Their sual

urban wilderness

changes and put a part of the Linnahall back to public use. The offered mid-planning for the case of Linnahall, is a transition between abandonment, demolition and rebuilding without setting any dates - the different demoliton stages could last for years or carried through continously.

The interim-solution allows to restore the concert hall beforehand, the formal ice rink, partially demolished space, would then also work as another entrance for the main part of the building – the concert hall. The offered intermediate use follows

the special restrictions for Tallinna Linnahall by National Heritage Board, written originally for the reconstruction, in case the temporary project turns up to be permanent.

seaside wing DP006290

Meanwhile, the rewilded ice arena could be used as leisure area, space for urban nature studies, a open-air concert venue. Next to the aesthetic qualities, the new “park� would offer a quiet get-away from city noise or a shelter from cold sea breezes, or be a site for studying urban ecosystems. sedges

DP006290

nt the nd m stand.

concert hall DP006290

teresting DP033820

parking

DP006290

new planning

mosses growing on the terrace roof of Linnahall

rewilded ice rink town hall (in plannig

The new developments (red) planned on the neighbouring wastelands(green)

Andrea Tamm / Estonian Academy of Arts / Interior Architecture Department / 2017