helSinki (fi

locAtIon Helsinki lAAkso – AurorA populAtIon ciTy 601,690 inHAb. conurbATion 1,379,110 inHAb. strAtEgIc sItE 41 HA sItE of projEct 24 HA

186

IntErvIEW

of the Site’S repreSentative jArMo rAvEAlA, architect Safa, heaD of project planning, city of helSinki, europan 3 Winner in quarrata (it)

presentation of the site within the context of the city development and in terms of strategy

the competition project area comprises two adjacent hospital areas – laakso and aurora – as well as part of central park between them. the area is about 2.5 kilometres from helsinki city centre, so public transport connections are excellent. in the vicinity is a compact inner-city residential area, helsinki’s most important park area and a sports park built for the 1952 olympic games. Some of the buildings in the laakso-auroa hospital areas are historicoculturally valuable and form a protected entity. at present, however, the areas are separate and rather spacious islets within a city that is becoming more compact. the whole area has over the decades been strongly defined as a hospital area.

How can the site be integrated in the issue of the adaptable city and how do you consider this issue?

adaptability can be explored at the levels both of buildings and of urban structure. adaptability is particularly important in hospital building. the conception of hospital care is changing and the strategic situation of the entire public healthcare system is under scrutiny. one rising trend is to create welfare campuses from the hospital areas, which offer, in addition to basic healthcare services, different care services and assisted living. the objective of the competition was to examine the potential for developing public healthcare in the area. the task was to combine the hospital functions and to propose new development for housing and different care services. a central challenge was also to link the area to the surrounding urban structure and remove the physical and mental barrier around the hospital. infill building should take into consideration the historico-culturally valuable environment and strengthen its identity.

At the time of sustainable development coupled to an economic crisis, have you already defined a specific strategy for the urban development of the site?

helsinki is the capital of finland and part of a growing metropolitan area. the city is looking for new housing and workplace areas in the master plan, presently in preparation, the dominant themes of which are the compacting of the urban structure and infill building. the direction of the city’s growth will be inwards. as the hospital operations become centralised, part of the vacated areas and buildings can be taken into use for housing or other functions. next, the intention is to initiate more detailed studies jointly with the prizewinning proposals for the different sub-areas. in the long term, further commissions stemming from the competition will seek to examine viable alternatives and, depending on the solution, also proceed as far as individual building design.

187

riStinieMentie 40 c 20, 02320 eSpoo, finlanD t. +358 503516992 jonna.taegen@taegenarchitectS.coM WWW.taegenarchitectS.coM

188

illuStration of the Main axiS, health pathWay

plan of the area concept of the project

Asclepeion

team point of view adaptability is the quality of a space that can be easily modified with the changing needs of the surrounding environment. the site consists of two historical hospital areas, which are still in healthcare use. the aim is to make the site more accessible, visible and effective. new buildings are integrated into the historical environment. in future, the hospital area will be more open to its surroundings, becoming a vibrant, multifaceted part of the city; a fine urban mix of both housing and healthcare functions. this mix of functions includes new housing concepts for senior citizens and recovering mental health patients. the standardized buildings and the rhythm of open and closed spaces generate spatial complexity and an urban structure that is flexible and adaptable.

jury point of view the project is extremely rational and consistent, elegant but bordering on the formalistic. the new street named “health route” starts from nordenskiöldinkatu, enters the hospital area, and creates an impressive central axis for both the new and old buildings. the history of the area and the original pavilion hospital typology are highlighted in a logical fashion and the currently somewhat secretive and hidden campus is opened up to welcome the general public. the project creates a meaningful dialogue between new and old.

illuStration of the hoSpital´S Main lobby

typical planS anD SectionS of one block froM Mono-large to Multi-Mix

189

190

vesisukkula – Water shuttle

team point of view the proposal exploits its original, restricted conditions by creating powerful and interesting thresholds between the outside and the inside of the site. in the urban structure, the site is located between two natural entities, sea and forest. all of them essentially consist of water – the sea is 97% water, the forest 80 % and human beings 70%. clean water is thus a perfect symbol for life and health. Water is the main component. the water system is located within the covered space, which can use fresh water and remain clean, while recycling water through the system. outside, there is a rain water system, which creates water retaining elements for the heavy rain, covering the whole site. the proposal’s various typologies, as well as the overall shape of the scheme, derive their inspiration from water’s different forms: flowing water, still water, ice and vapor.

jury point of view it is a many-faceted, diverse and interesting proposal. in terms of health-related activities and the present situation, the treatment of the central parts of the laakso campus forms the most potentially interesting part of the project. it is the only proposal that takes the existing Synopsia complex, and its role in the future health care ensemble, as one of the starting points. Some good new connections to central park, also south of nordenskiöldinkatu and some interesting new functions, such as the nature centre, are proposed.

191

sensorial hug

team point of view We propose an artificial landscape, a fluent, hybrid building, a sensorial covered promenade that adapts to the topography and forest mass, complements the pre-existing buildings and connects the laakson and aurora areas. the project is developed through different ribbons that adapt to the terrain through rising or falling sections. the replaceability of these ribbons is underscored by a system of longitudinally flexible and interchangeable programmes that are adjusted to the needs of the site. Shops, offices, residential apartments, studios, workshops, dwellings and public spaces are mixed across the project, creating new social and cultural relationships and allowing for sunlight, privacy needs and preexisting buildings.

jury point of view the project presents one of the most original concepts in the whole competition. the continuous snakelike structure meanders through the surroundings in a way that is undoubtedly carefully calculated but nevertheless feels somewhat arbitrary. the “snake” does not appear to be particularly strongly linked to its location. it has a tendency to separate itself from central park, cutting the natural pedestrian and bicycle connections. in the end it seems to close off and create boundaries rather than open up and connect.

avanto architectS ltD, kalevankatu 31 a 3 00100 helSinki, finlanD t. +358 503531095 ark@avan.to WWW.avan.to

192

aerial vieW, the MoSt preciouS open rockS have been SaveD

health care centre With MixeD private anD public functionS SpecialiSeD houSing in city villaS in park like SurrounDingS

confetti

team point of view the design consists of several areas with different building typologies, a patchwork approach that makes the urban layout very adaptable. Separate clusters can be built in several phases and the flexible concept enables design changes to be made as needs change. a mix of functions makes the area lively 24/7. blurring the boundaries between public and private services makes the proposed new health village an active meeting place. Different urban rhythms are catered for by sharing spaces. for example raising the level of use of the sports and rehabilitation facilities in the two hospital areas reduces the need for new building spaces. this is not just ecologically and financially sustainable but is also a way to connect the previously isolated hospital areas to surrounding city fabric.

jury point of view the entry is balanced, realistic and feasible, and presents an urban scale that catches the spirit of the place and the existing urban grain in a peaceful yet convincing way. the connections to the surrounding city are well thought out, although they do not actually present any new ways to make the area more physically or mentally accessible to the public. to combat this and to emphasize urbanity, the proposed new point blocks by reijolankatu could, for instance, have been more boldly brought close to the edge of the street.

AlEssAndro buA (it)

IlArIA ArIolfo (It)

AndrEA AlEssIo (it) dAvIdE bArrErI (it) sArA bEccHIo (it) pAolo borgHIno (it) AndrEA toMAsI (it) architectS info@pla-c.eu WWW.pla-c.eu StuDioerrante@gMail.coM WWW.StuDioerrantearchitecture.tuMblr.coM anDreatoMaSi.1985@gMail.coM

193

Institutes without boundaries

team point of view laakso aurora is seeking a new institution: an urban health care prototype that is more than just a hospital but a space for physical and psychic reintegration. to achieve Institutes without boundaries, four strategies are required: 1. to eliminate existing physical boundaries and enhance pedestrian mobility; 2. to redistribute existing hospital/outpatient care and managerial functions to four institutes through extensions and on-site reconstructions; 3. to achieve greater south-north permeability by redefining the street hierarchy based around new underground car parks; 4. to conceive buildings as open platforms, which generate a collective mix, in which patients are simple citizens actively involved in communal life.

jury point of view this project’s most interesting contribution is its initial aim of breaking boundaries, both physical and mental. how well the project succeeds in this is, however, debatable. as far as physical boundaries are concerned, this does not seem to be particularly emphasised other than in the removal of all the surrounding fences. in fact, the proposed interventions do not actually improve the area’s connection to the surrounding urban structure. the great strengths of the project lie in the thinking behind it and the strong belief in the power of small-scale interventions.