An EU embassy for climate change in the shifting Arctic region
Marleen Stokkeby Studio 3 AAA Thesis // Spring 2019
CONTENTS
1
Changing Arctic
6 - 11
2
Sami people
12 - 17
3
The Program
18 - 25
4
Contaminating characters and functions
26 - 29
5
Site selection
30 - 39
6 Time
40 - 45
7
Resist and resign
46 - 47
8
Key rules for architectural decisions
48 - 53
9
Sustainability approach
54 - 55
10
Reflection
56 - 57
11 Bibliography
58 - 59
12 Illustrations
60 - 61
13 Appendix
62 - 89
ABSTRACT
This project looks into the Arctic region
project aims to create a space for intense
and the drastic climatic transformations
debate and reflection, which could lead
of the area. To withstand climate change,
to informed political decisions to resist
right decisions need to be made on a
climate change.
higher political level. Currently, there is a huge distance between the Arctic region
This project also explores the aspect
and the main political centers. Hundreds
of time and decay as design factors in
of kilometers make the decision making
architecture and seeks if the usually
easier, as the politicians are not directly
feared layer of change and disintegration
threatened by the changes and therefore
can become a strength in the design to
might suffer from the lack of awareness
create an extra sense of urgency to the
about the consequences of their actions.
proposed program.
Therefore, this master thesis proposes an extroverted European Union embassy in the North of Finland. Situated on an island where Lake Inari meets Ivalo River, the ambassadors are placed in the center of a rapid change and shifting landscapes. External forces and local climatic conditions are invited to change the architecture and the habits of the people to create extreme awareness about the fast transformation of the region. This project aims to create a space for intense
5
1 - Changing Arctic
NN
1.1 A collage made during the research period describing the incredibly rapid migration of plant and animal species due to climate change. 6
1 - Changing Arctic
CHANGING ARCTIC
Global warming is neither truly global nor
and tourism, environmental challenges
always warming
and political power confrontations. (Smith,
Laurence Smith (Smith, 2011)
2011)
ARCTIC AMPLIFICATION
CARBON AMOUNTS (Wookey, 2015)
A phenomenon, where changes in the net
9 Pg3 - Amount that human kind releases
radiation balance tend to produce a larger
into the atmosphere due to the industrial
increase in temperature near the poles than
activity every year
the planetary average.
1400 Pg3 - Amount that is stored in
(Mack, 2016)
permafrost in the Arctic due to biological processes
Even though, the average temperature of the planet is steadily rising, it is not
ALBEDO
uniform. (Smith, 2011) The temperature
The amount of radiation that reflects away
in the Arctic region is warming 2 (Wookey,
from a surface compared to the amount
2015) times faster than anywhere else in
that gets absorbed.
the world. This has led to melting of the
(Cain, 2009)
polar ice in a rate that has never been documented before. The retreat of the ice
The Arctic is as important as rainforests in
opens up passageways for shipping as
terms of storing CO2. In the cold climate,
well as makes the resources like oil and
the process of decay of organic matter
gas, at the moment hidden in the Arctic,
is really slow and instead the matter is
more accessible. This means that one
frozen in the permafrost together with the
of the last empty places in the world will
embedded CO2. Continuous warming of
experience increase in economic activity
the area is now melting the permafrost
7
1 - Changing Arctic
2006 - 2015
St. John’s
Rotterdam
2040 - 2059
St. John’s
Rotterdam
Open water ship route
Ice-strengthened ship route
Arctic sea ice retreat and changing arctic shipping routes in September
1.2 Arctic sea ice retreat and changing arctic shipping routes in September 8
1 - Changing Arctic
and therefore releasing the collected
/.../ this November, I saw open water while
CO2 which is equivalent to 155 years
travelling on the river. Neither me nor my
of industrial activity on a current level.
mum could remember the last time, when
(Wookey, 2015)
the river was not fully frozen in November
Ice and snow covered surfaces have an
Katariina Guttorm, Sajos culture center in
important role in cooling the Earth as the
Inari, Finland1
/.../
albedo of the snow is close to 1, which means it reflects almost all the incoming
Global warming is seen first hand by the
energy back to space. As the snow and
local people of the north and the impacts
ice coverage grow smaller, more heat is
are troubling as historical livelihoods like
absorbed creating a dangerous positive
plant harvesting and reindeer herding are
feedback loop. (Wookey, 2015)
under threat. Warmer temperatures in the winter lead to snowmelt and as a result
It is important to remember that the
hard layers of ice are formed close to the
environment
dense
ground. Reindeers are unable to break the
network and changes in the Arctic strongly
layer of ice and are unable to access the
influence other parts of the world. Striking
ground lichen and other plans that they
polar ice retreat causes sea-level rise
depend on in the winter time. (Wing, 2017)
is
essentially
a
and can even change the whole ocean circulation and therefore as the Arctic
Global warming also causes changes
warms, areas like the North-West Europe
in biodiversity, as it has been found that
can actually become cooler. (Wookey,
on average, the world plant and animal
2015)
species are migrating north by 6,1 km per decade - that is almost 2 meters a
/.../ because it was unusually hot this
day. This means that the flora and fauna
summer, berries ripened really fast. We
not only of the Arctic, but the rest of the
could pick cloudberries for only a week this
world, will go through a drastic change,
year and then they were ruined /.../
which might have catastrophic impact on
The receptionist of the Siida museum in
the native peoples of the far north as their
Inari, Finland
language, religion and identity is heavily
1
based on the local nature. (Smith, 2011)
Fragments from conversations with the locals during the study trip to Inari and Karasjok.
1
9
1 - Changing Arctic
+2 C째
+3 C째
+4 C째
+5 C째
1.3 Global temperature anomalies for 2018 compared with 1951 - 1980 base period 10
1 - Changing Arctic
0-10 kg m-2
10-25 kg m-2
25-50 kg m-2
50-100 kg m-2
1.4 Soil organic carbon content 11
2 - Sami People
aškka - when a river is blocked and the water freezes; áinnádat - when snow has covered the tracks but they are still slightly visible; bearta - when the weather is mild after snowing, and the snow becomes compact; bieggagaikkohat - a patch of where the wind has blown most or all the snow away; bihci - frost on the pasture; boara - during spring when the ice melts on a river and ice-slush is gushing out; boðas - during fall when the sides of a river freezes, and when rocks freeze to the ground; bohkolat - deep snow of varying depth; small snow-drift on road; borga - snowdrift; borga TV:s - Snow on TV; bulži - crust of ice on trees; ceavvi - snow so compact it can carry people; cuoŋu - snow heap solid enough to carry people or reindeers; čahki - hard lump of snow; časttas - when the wind has blown the snow into a heap that looks like waves; čáðgi - light and sunny weather, while it is snowing; čearga - when wind has blown snow so compact you cannot get your ski-staff through it; čiegar - snow-field which has been trampled and dug up by reindeer feeding there; čilvi - ice-covered area where reindeer have been grazing in mild weather; činus firm, even snow, but not firm enough to bear; čuohki - ice-crust on a pasture; deamádat - a layer of wet powder snow; doalli - tracks so covered with snow that only a reindeer can follow; doavdnji - snow of such a depth that skis or a sleigh will not come in contact with the ground; dobádat - sticky snow, heavy wet snow; earbmi - snowfall with small snowflakes; fáska - snow blown together by the wind; fieski - area where a grazing herd of reindeer has been; gaskageardi - layer of crust; gaska-skárta - hard layer of crust; gálja - frozen, slippery surface; geardni - thin crust of snow; girrat - after snowfall the weather gets colder and the snow gets so tough skiing is impossible; goahpálat - the kind of snow-storm in which the snow falls thickly and sticks to things; guoldu - snow blown with the wind; jassa - patches of snow still around when most of the snow is gone; joavgga - when snow has been blown behind a tree or wall, but before it gets solid; joavggahat - place where the snow lies particularly deep after a fall of snow; jođáhat - tracks in the snow left by a migrating reindeer herd; jolas - tracks made in the snow by reindeer, dogs or wolves which have gone in a row; kjerris - sleigh, ski passes over a rough surface; láhttu - ski-track; lavki - ice covered with loose, dry snow with no foothold; loanjis - tracks of the whole herd of reindeer; luotkkus - fluffy white snow when there is no wind; márahat - large, beaten winter-track; moarri - thin ice crust that breaks and cuts the hoofs of horses and reindeers; muohta - snow; moskkur - snow that has fallen on a reindeertrack and is old and semi-soft; muovllahat - place where people or animals have ploughed through or plunged along in deep snow or a soft bog; njáhcu - wet snow because of mild weather; njeađgga - drifting snow which gets blown up from the ground, which covers roads or tracks; njuohpa - really slippery ice with water or powdersnow on top; oavlluš - depression, hollow, with slushy snow in it, on land or on ice; oppas - untouched, untrodden covering of snow; rádnu - tracks of a hare; rodda - completely massive snow, but not ice; ruokŋa - thin hard crust of ice on snow; sarti - a layer of frozen snow on a pasture, can also be the bottom layer of a pile of snow; seaŋaš - granular snow at the bottom of the layer of snow; sievlla - the state of things when the spring snow is so soft that one sinks in it; sittardit - very pretty snowfall; skálvi - big, high, steep and usually hard snow-drift; skárta - thin, more or less ice-like, layer of snow frozen on to the ground; skáva - very thin layer of frozen snow; skávvi - when the snow in the spring has been wet, but the temperature has fallen so the snow is solid enough to maintain a skiier; skoarádat - the kind of going in which one hears a grating noise; skoavddas - a cavity/void in the snow; šlavzi - completely soaking wet snow; skoavdi - empty space between snow and the ground; slievar - soft powdersnow that drifts easily with the wind; soavli - snow and ice mixed into a sludge; spoatna - hard, firm, snow to drive on, when there is little snow; vahca - new powder snow, mostly used when fallen on older snow; veađahat - place where snow has been blown away; nearly bare patch; vuohčči - smooth glossy ice with moisture on top1
There is one word in the Sami language for snow - muohta - and around 200 words to descirbe the qualities and conditions of the snow and traces in the snow 1
12
2 - Sami People
SAMI PEOPLE
Sami
officially
processes have had a strong impact on
recognized indigenous peoples of Europe
people
are
the
only
the lives of these people. Nature has been
(Sutherland, 2016), whose living areas
seen as something alive, something with
stretch across four countries: Norway,
a soul, a partner instead of a material
Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Sami
(Fenno-Ugria, 2019) and has shaped the
people are part of the Finno-Ugric peoples
concept of time and direction.2 (Redding,
together with nations like Finland, Estonia
n.d.) Sami language is divided into many
and Hungary as well as many other
dialects. (Roto, 2015) Due to historical
stateless nations spread mainly across
assimilation policies, a generation of
Russia.1
people, who cannot speak their mother tongue, has been left behind and therefore
The Finno-Ugric people are defined by
some of the Sami dialects are now extinct.
the Uralic languages they speak – a
But some of them are being revitalized
completely different branch of languages
through systematic teaching, language
from Indo-European languages generally
nests and rising cultural awareness.3
spoken across Europe. (Sutherland, 2016) According to American linguist Benjamin
POPULATION OF SAMI PEOPLE4
Lee Whorf, language shapes the way we
(Roto, 2015)
think, decides what we think about and has
Norway
40 000 - 70 000
an effect on how we understand material
Sweden
20 000
substance. (Perry, 2016) Sami and other
Finland
7000 - 10 000
Finno-Ugric languages bear a lot of traces
Russia
2000
how nature and the fluctuation of natural 1 Map can be found in the appendix Direction in the Sami language is based on where one was situated in relation to the coast. North or davvi in Sami means towards the coast and depending on one’s location, davvi can mean a number of different directions. Lulli or south means away from the coast; oarji means to one’s left when facing north 3 Based on the talks with the locals and workers of the Giellagas Institute in the University of Oulu 4 The numbers vary a lot because the definition of a Sami is unclear
2
13
2 - Sami People
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N E
W
E
W 6
9
7
5
10
8
E
W
4 11
W
E
3
12 2
E
W 1
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
E
W
Sami people territory Finno-Ugric nation state
W
W
Southern Sami - 500 speakers Ume Sami - 20 speakers Pite Sami - 40 speakers Lule Sami - 1500 speakers Northern Sami - 15 000 speakers 6 Inari Sami - 300 speakers 7 Skolt Sami - 300 speakers 8 Akkala Sami - extinct 9 Kildin Sami - 600 speakers 10 Ter Sami - 10 speakers 11 Kainuu Sami - extinct 12 Kemi Sami - extinct 1 2 3 4 5
E
E
E
W S
200 km
S
200 km
S
200 km
S
200 km
2.1 Sami culture and language mapping in the north of Europe. 14
S
200 km
S
200 km
S
200 km
S
2 - Sami People
SAMI LANGUAGES (Roto, 2015) Language Speakers Speakers Southern
in 1997 600
in 2010
50
20
500
Sami Ume Sami Pite Sami
60 Lule Sami
2300 Northern
21 700
20 2000
Inari Sami
300
400
Skolt Sami
300
Akkala Sami
7 Kildin Sami 650
0 787
Ter Sami
Samis are the most known group whose main livelihood is reindeer herding. River
endangered
Samis lived off both fishing and reindeer
Critically
herding. An activity that is common for
endangered
all four groups is harvesting berries and
Critically
plants. These three traditional activities:
endangered
fishing, reindeer herding and harvesting,
Severely
have changed a lot1 but are still a big part of their lives.
Definitely
Samis were traditionally nomadic or semi-
endangered
nomadic people, but the migration route is
Severely
different for every group. Mountain Samis
endangered
would travel together with their reindeer
Severely
herd for hundreds of kilometers from
endangered
the mountains to the coast of Norway
Extinct
and back. Coastal Samis also practiced
Severely
linear migration but in a much smaller
endangered
scale. Forest Samis moved in a circular
Critically
way, while the River Sami people migrated
endangered
between summer and winter villages. In
0
Extinct
the summer, families usually lived on their
0
Extinct
own, while in the winter they would come
8
2
Kainuu Sami 0 Kemi Sami
0
integrated with Norwegians. Mountain
Severely
endangered 30 000
Sami
430
mainly fishing and are nowadays mostly Status
together and form small villages. Sami people are largely divided into four based on the area they live in and their
TRADITIONAL MIGRATION PATTERNS
main livelihood. The forest Sami lived traditionally in the central Sweden and were the only group who practiced a little bit of agriculture as that was possible in
TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS
that warmer area. Forest Samis are nearly extinct now. Costal Sami people practiced
For example, reindeer herds are now controlled with snowmobiles and helicopters instead of skis
1
15
2 - Sami People
2.2 A collage made during the study trip to Inari based on the story about the burial islands and how northern lights are born. 16
2 - Sami People
A story says, that dead people cannot travel
general and together with that to the locals
on water, which is why Sami people burried
on a higher political level. Therefore Sami
their dead on islands. As the souls of the
culture is not the main focus in my project
dead could not move around horizontally,
but as they are an integral part of the
they rised up to the sky creating the
land they are not forgotten. Their stories,
northern lights. You must not point at
knowledge and understanding of life have
the northern lights nor should you make
been a great source for inspiration and are
loud noises as it might insult and anger
weaved into this project.
the lights and you could be attacked and punished.1 Story heard during the study trip to Inari, Finland AURORA BOREALIS A natural phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish and greenish light in the sky caused by collisions between
electrically
charged
particals
released from the sun and gases of the Earth’s atmosphere. (Aurora, 2012) Greek: Aurora - sunrise; Borealis - wind This project started with my interest in stateless Finno-Ugric people and Sami culture was looked more in depth. First idea was to create something for that culture but after the study trip to Finland, visiting the Giellagas Institute in the University of Oulu and talking to the locals, it was clear that it would be more important to bring awareness to the changes in the Arctic in 1 The word for Northern lights in Northern Sami language is guovssahasat meaning the bird Siberian Jay referring to something that makes a sound. Weird noises heard during aurora borealis were for the longest time considered as folklore but now it has been proven that northern lights do actually make noise.
17
3 - The program
3.1 Finnish parliament in Lapland. A collage made during the study trip to Inari based on multible talks with the locals. 18
3 - The program
THE PROGRAM
/.../ we have land and water disputes with
and their power remains advisory ruled
the government all the time /.../
by the respective state government. Sami
The receptionist of the Sami museum in
people are not recognized as a minority in
Karasjok, Norway1
Russia.
/.../ there are no sami people in the parliament of Finland /.../
2
SAMI COUNCIL Organization
that
unites
the
Sami
Katariina Guttorm, Sajos culture center in
parliaments and represents Sami people
Inari, Finland1
from all four states. Its main task is to maintain the cultural, political, economic
/.../ it is easy to be ignorant and make decisions from far away /.../
and social rights of the Samis. (Saami, n.d.)
Katariina Guttorm, Sajos culture center in Inari, Finland1
ARCTIC COUNCIL Intergovernmental
forum
promoting
Sami people have three parliaments – in
cooperation between 8 Arctic countries -
Inari, Finland (founded in 1973), Karasjok,
Canada, The Kingdom of Denmark, Finland,
Norway (founded in 1989) and Kiruna,
Iceland, Norway, The Russian Federation,
Sweden (founded in 1993). These are the
Sweden and The United States - and Arctic
representative institutions for people of
indigenous people.
Sami heritage. The parliaments in each of
(Arctic, n.d.)
those countries have an extremely weak political influence - they have no veto right
Fragments from conversations with the locals during the study trip to Inari and Karasjok 2 As of March, 2019
1
19
3 - The program
Washington - 5684 km
Ottawa - 4964 km
Reykjavik - 2875 km
Oslo - 3346 km
Helsinki - 3321 km Moscow - 3807 km
Stockholm - 3414 km
Copenhagen - 3821 km
3.2 Distances of the political centres of the Arctic countries from the North pole. 20
3 - The program
Sami council represents Sami people from
a heritage area, but the reindeer migration
all four countries and together with other
routes were still under threat. With the
5 representative bodies of indigenous
government’s denial of the opposition of
people of the north, participate in the work
the Sami communities, the activists begun
of the Arctic Council. However, they have a
a hunger strike in front of the Norwegian
consultation role but no voting rights.
parliament and chained themselves on the site. The protesters were removed by
The Saami Council cannot accept the project being continued with the serious
the police by force. The power station was opened in 1987. (Lawrence, 2011)
consequences that the project will impose on Sami industries and Sami culture
In addition to constant disagreements
Statement on the Arctic Railway by The
about the use of the water, land and
Saami Council, 23.09.2018
resources, there is a huge physical gap between the Arctic region and the main
In 2017, a project was proposed to create
political centers, where actual decisions
a railway extension from Rovaniemi to the
about this region are made. It seems that
Barents sea. The idea was praised by the
this distance makes the decision making
industries and the politicians but found
easier as the politicians are not directly
opposition in the Sami community as
affected by the rapid climatic changes of
the railway would have cut through their
the area nor do they have to face the local
sacred landscape and reindeer migration
community. This project aims to close the
routes.The project is now put on hold not
gap between this fast changing part of the
because of the resistance of the Sami
world and its local people and the main
people but because the project is currently
political centers of Europe by proposing
not commercially viable. (Nilsen, 2017)
an European Union embassy in the Arctic.
In 1970, a water dam was proposed on the Alta River in Norway, which runs through the historic reindeer herding routes. The proposed project would have completely inundate the herding grounds as well as the Sami village of Masi. The project was scaled down after the village was named
21
3 - The program
N
N
N
Azores
W
N
N
N
N
N
Madeira Canary Islands
1
E
2
E
W
3
W
E 4
W
E
5
E
W 6
W
E
7 8
3
W
E 9
10
W
E
W
E
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
W
8 9 10
Macaronesian Arctic Alpine Boreal Atlantic Continental Steppic Pannonian Black Sea Mediterranean S
500 km
E
S
3.3 Ecoregions of Europe. 22
500 km
S
500 km
S
500 km
S
500 km
S
500 km
S
3 - The program
AMBASSADOR
Irak, has its own fortified apartment block
An official who represents his or her own
as well as swimming pool, fitness center
country in a foreign country.
and more. But in most cases, the staff of an embassy lives in a normal housing in
EMBASSY
the hosting city.1 This project does not
The group of people who represent their
provide living premises for the politicians.
country in a foreign country.
Housing could be found in the nearby cities: Ivalo (around 14 km downstream of
ATTACHÉ
the Ivalo river by boat) and Inari (around 40
A person who works in an embassy and has
km by boat across the lake Inari).
a particular area of responsibility in which they have special knowledge.
The premises of the mission shall be inviolable. The agents of the receiving
The proposed embassy is divided into
State may not enter them, except with the
10 departments based on 10 ecoregions
consent of the head of the mission.
of Europe. As ecoregions do not follow
Vienna convention on diplomatic relations,
arbitrary
boarders
between
countries
1961, article 22
- much like historical living areas and migration routes of the Sami people -
To create awareness and debate on
but climatic conditions, countries will be
climate change on a higher political level,
placed to work together. The embassy
classical introverted and highly protected
will host 28 ambassadors – 1 political
embassy is turned inside out – influenced
representative from each EU country –
by seasonal changes as well as shifts in
and 62 attachés – 1 person from each
longer time scales and contaminated by
country for every ecoregion. This way a
other characters and programs.
wider picture and connection between changes in the Arctic and changes in the rest of Europe are created. In more dangerous cities, the embassy complex might include also apartments for the workers of the embassy. For example The United States embassy in Bagdad,
Studies in the appendix
1
23
3 - The program
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
1970
1970 1800
W
E
1800
E
W
1500
E
W
Sami bilingual municipalities Historical Sami people territories W
E
Sami culture related institutions Finnish political institutions Home cities of Finnish ministers
W
E
W
E
W
E
1500 E
W
1200 1200 W
E
W
E
W
E S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
3.4 Mapping of the Sami culture related institutions, political institutions of Finland and home cities of Finnish ministers as of march, 2019. 24
3 - The program
WORKERS PER DEPARTMENT Macaronesian department
Portugal
Spain
Secretary
Arctic department
Secretary
Norway
Alpine department
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Spain
France
Austria
Italy
Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Denmark
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Spain
Portugal
Czechia
Germany
Belgium
Luxembourg
France
Austria
Slovenia
Slovenia
Croatia
Bulgaria
Romania
Poland
Slovakia
Czechia
Secretary
Boreal department
Norway
Sweden
Secretary
Atlantic department
Ireland
UK
Secretary
Continental department
Denmark
Lithuania
Poland
Croatia
Bulgaria
Romania
Secretary
Steppic department
Secretary
Romania
Pannonian department
Hungary
Slovakia
Czechia
Austria
Croatia
Secretary
Romania
Black Sea department
Romania
Secretary
Bulgaria
Mediterranean department
Portugal
Spain
France
Italy
Croatia
Greece
Secretary
Malta
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERMANENT WORKERS IN THE EMBASSY 28 ambassadors An ambassador is a political representative of his country in a foreign land. Proposed embassy will host 28 embassadors - 1 from each EU country to create direct political connecitions from the Arctic to all EU countries.
62 attachés An attaché is a member of diplomatic representation in a foreign land. Attachés often hold knowledge in some specific field. Proposed embassy will host 1 attaché from each country for every ecoregion. All together that is 62 attachés.
10 secretaries Secretaries in embassies help out with day-to-day paper work and other assignments. This project proposes 1 secretary for every department.
1 librarian
1 archivist
1 receptionist
The embassy librarian is responsible for acquiring, organising, managing and distributing library resources and ensuring that library provision meets the needs of all its users. This project proposes 1 library that is shared by all 10 embassy departments as well as the seed bank and is also open to the public.
The archivist is responsible for the provision,care and management of permanent collections of information that are intended to preserve and help others to discover it. This project proposes an archive that is shared by the politicians and the scientists.
The receptionist of the embassy welcomes politicians, scientists, dreamers or anyone else wishing to visit the complex and is responsible for directing the visitors.
2 caretakers
3.5 Number of workers in the proposed embassy. 25
4 - Contaminating characters and functions
THE POLITICIAN December
No ve m
:00
be
0
00 06:00 0 5:0 0 07: 0
08:0
00 18:00 17 0 19: :00 16
March
:0
20:0
Au g
l
22
:00 21
September
0
09
:0
:0
0
us t
ri Ap
00 24:00 2 3:0 0 01: 0
02:0
03 er tob Oc
Fe bru ary
r
04 :00
ary
nu
Ja
15
:00
14:0
0
00 12:00 1 1:0 0 13:
0
:0
10
Ju
ly
June
Ma y
THE SCIENTIST December
No ve m
:00
be
rua
00 06:00 0 5:0 0 07: 0
Fe b
0
0
09
:0
:0
t
0
us
0 1 6
Au g
08:0
00 18:00 17 0 19: :0
March
:0
20:0
September
ril
22
:00 21
er tob
Ap
00 24:00 2 3:0 0 01: 0
02:0
03 Oc
ry
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THE LOCAL December
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26
15
4.1 Time spent by the characters on site.
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4 - Contaminating characters and functions
CONTAMINATING CHARACTERS AND FUNCTIONS
THE CHARATERS
and the European Union legislative power
Character Program
centers.
The Politician
Embassy and debating chamber
The Scientist is the key person to produce
The Scientist
Seed bank
indisputable data on climate change and
The Dreamer
Dwelling
its consequences that can be presented
Jam factory
to the political representatives. To create
The Local
a permanent scientific base and to also Proposed
sharing
visualize the shifts in nature in all over
creating
Europe due to global warming, a seed
conversation and debate, which will
bank of endangered plant species of the
hopefully
EU countries1, is proposed on the site.
knowledge
project and lead
to
is
about
visions, informed
political
decisions. To create that environment,
Seeds of the species will be collected in
3 extra characters – the scientist, the
the respective countries and delivered to
dreamer and the local -
were added
the facility, where the details are recorded.
to the project, each of them bringing
Then the seeds are cleaned, dried and
complexities into the proposed program
sealed in airtight containers. Eventually
of the embassy.
all seeds die but before that happens, they can be either harvested again from the
The Politician works in the embassy to
original site or can be replanted in the seed
experience the shifts of the region. The
bank. Therefore this project proposes
Politician is there to create a continuous
greenhouses
political connection between the Arctic
permanent. Greenhouses are intertwined
to
keep
the
collection
Studies in the appendix
1
27
4 - Contaminating characters and functions
DRYING Traditional way of preservation
Before modern freezers, berries with a low content of benzoic acid, for example bilberries and raspberries, were preserved by drying. Drying is one of the oldest food preservation methods. Although it reduces the content of water soluble vitamins, it increases the fiber content and the energy density.
Blueberry
Raspberry
PRESERVATION IN WATER Traditional way of preservation Mature cloudberries and lingonberries are cleaned, rinsed and put into well cleaned bottles. Boiled and cooled water is poured over the berries after what, the bottle is tightly closed. No sugar is added.
Cool water Cloudberry Lingonberry
SWEETENED JAM More recent way of preservation Today most berries are heated together with sugar to create jam. The products are then eaten together with porridge, cheese, meat, pancakes and blood or potato dumplings. Historically, all food heating was done over live fire.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS Not traditional among samis but a popular product in Finland In northern countries traditional liquer from cloudberries is made with a strong taste and a high sugar content. Alcoholic drinks are not traditional in sami culture but are present in other northern indigenous cultures.
4.2 Plant preservation and possible products made in the “Jam factory�. 28
4 - Contaminating characters and functions
with the offices of the embassy to create
saunas are open for them to encourage
an overlap between the politicians and the
encounters between the dreamers, the
scientist. By working in the greenhouse, the
politicians and the scientists. They are
politicians might begin feeling responsible
the only characters inhabiting the site in
for the well-being of the plants and a
the night experiencing the local wonders
connection between changing climate in
like northern lights and midnight sun away
the Arctic and in their home countries is
from the city lights.
created. It was crucial to include The Local into the SEED COLLECTION PROCESS IN THE
program of the embassy as he is the one
PROPOSED SEED BANK
whose traditional livelihoods and living
Seed collection
habits are now challenged due to climate
Recording of the details
change. Historical livelihoods of the local
Cleaning of the seeds
Sami people are still very much practiced.
Drying of the seeds
Sami education center located in Inari
Seeds are sealed into airtight containers
already offers facilities for fish and reindeer
Seeds are frozen
meat processing. (koulutuskeskus, n.d.)
Seeds are replanted and reharvested
This project aims to include the locals into
in the greenhouses
the discussion by creating a facility for
1
the third activity – berry harvesting.3 Plant Great ideas might sometimes come from
processing workshop is proposed, where
unusual sources and people2, therefore the
gathered berries can turned into products
project invites in The Dreamer – a person,
like jam, or preserved by using traditional
who is mainly visiting to experience
methods. Traditionally
the extreme environment and natural
and knowledge was passed on through
phenomenons of the area. Dwellings,
oral storytelling and practical learning4 so
heated by the fires of the jam factory, are
in a passive way, this function also aims
created to host up to 16 visitors and they
to support the intangible tradition of oral
participate in the work of the seed bank
sharing of the knowledge.
Sami
language
as a volunteer. The embassy library and 1 Usually in seed banks, the collected seeds are frozen to preserve them longer, this project proposes greenhouses for continuous reharvesting of the seeds. 2I recall a story told by my geology professor during my undergraduate studies: for the longest time, the engineers tried to figure out how to straighten the Pisa tower by lifting up the sinking side of the building, until they saw a drawing made by a kindergardener showing ants carrying away grains of sand from underneath the tower. According to my professor, this is how the engineers came up with the plan to sink the other side of the structure instead to keep the tower from falling. It should be mentioned that I haven’t been able to find any proof to this story myself. 3Studies in the appendix 4 Written word in Sami languages came into being only in the 20th century
29
5 - Site selection
20 000
5.1 Population density in the Arctic. 30
50 000
100 000
200 000
400 000
5 - Site selection
SITE SELECTION
The search for the site begun by locating
AKKA
an area in the Arctic. Northern Europe
Finnish: old woman
was chosen for various reasons. First of
The goddess of the earth, soil and
all, it is the most populated area in the
vegetation; female half of everything.
region and secondly, it is home for the only indigenous peoples of Europe – the
SEIDA
Sami people. Being from a Finno-Ugric
Sami scared place; a place of worship.
state myself I have grown up in a similar
Typically a natural formation that stands out
linguistic environment with the Sami
in the surroundings: cliffs, large boulders,
people, with similar boreal values, and the
islands, springs, fell tops.
same respect for nature as Estonians also believe that natural elements and sites are
Lake Inari was looked more closely to locate
alive and have souls.
my site as this is where three different Sami groups and languages – Inari, Skolt
Finland was as the location because it is
and Northern Sami – meet. Lake Inari is
the only Finno-Ugric country from all of the
the third largest lake in Finland covering
European Arctic countries. Therefore there
about 1040 km2 and it has around 3000
is an added tension between two nations
islands. The lake is known as the Sami sea
with a similar background but one with a
and the area has many seidas including
state and with developed city-culture and
two burial islands and Ukkonsaari. Seidas
the other still holding on to traditions.
for Ukko and Akka always formed a pair – an island, where the male half Ukko was
UKKO
worshipped and a fell dedicated to its
Finnish: grandfather, old and wise man God of thunder and rain; male half of everything 31
5 - Site selection
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E S
100 km
5.2 Lake Inari in Finland. 32
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
100 km
S
5 - Site selection
female partner Akka. (Metsähallitus, n.d.)
awareness in the users of the proposed
After the Samis were forced to accept
embassy, the most unstable and hostile
christianity, many of the sacred natural
site as possible was chosen for a usually
sites
highly protected and stable function. An
were
destroyed
therefore
only
two known twins in the landscape have
island in the river mouth gets flooded
remained. Analysing these pairs, I found
every spring for a week, when the snow
that the distance or directions between
melts. These floods are possibly getting
these sites are not important nor are they
more rapid and severe as because of
ever physically connected. Important thing
the climate change, the winters in the
is that these sites have visual contact.1
north are getting milder, which causes increasing snowfall.1
One of the main aspects that informed the site selection in the area of lake Inari,
Ivalojoki is a typical meandering river,
was the infrastructure network. Until quite
which carves its way through the
recently, roads were a secondary network
landscape leaving behind scars. The
as most people use the waterways both
journey of the river was studied and
in the summer and in the winter. And
its possible future route was predicted
even now, waterways are widely used.
based on laser scanning data of the
Ivalojoki connects the local airport, which
area.1 According to that, the chosen site
is considered an important infrastructural
will eventually disappear as the river will
knot for the characters of the project,
make its way through the landscape.
to the lake and therefore the site for the project is located in the mouth of the river,
Inspired by the story of the male and
where Ivalojoki meets lake Inari. Chosen
female twins in the landscape, a second
site is accessed by boat or by skis or
location was added on a protected hill
snowmobile when the water is frozen.
nearby – a female partner to the island
That makes this proposal independent
site. The site on the river will host all
from
the program and charaters and is more
sometimes
unreliable
on
land
infrastructure as occationally roads get
focused on encouraging interactions
flooded during the spring flood or closed
and debate. The hill site is mostly for
in the winter because of heavy snowfall.
reflection offering a chance to step out of the complex and look at it from the
To create extreme environmental
distance.
Studies in the appendix
1
33
5 - Site selection
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
Infrastructure S
S
S
S
S
S
Project site 5.3 Mapping of the infrastructure - roads. 34
5 - Site selection
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
N
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
Infrastructure S
S
S
S
S
S
Project site 5.4 Mapping of the infrastructure - waterways. 35
5 - Site selection
5.5 Lake Inari in the winter. A collage made during the study trip to Inari based on personal experience describing how the frozen lake is an important part of the infrastructure for both humans and animals. 36
5 - Site selection
5.6 A collage made during the study trip to Inari based on personal experience describing how the frozen lake is an important part of the infrastructure for both humans and animals. 37
5 - Site selection
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
S
200 m
N
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S
200 m
N
S N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
E
W
Flooding map S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
Island site 5.7 Flooding on the site. 38
200 m
S
200 m
S
200 m
S
Hill site
5 - Site selection
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
5.8 Island site disappearance due to the movement of the river. 39
6 - Time
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
W
E
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
6.1 Architecture altering the future. 40
N
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
10 m
S
6 - Time
TIME
We have a hidden fear of both the passing
What is characteristic for disintegration is
and disappearance of time and its
that it happens by default anywhere and
endlessness. /.../ Architecture materializes
at the same time it is extremely location
history and mediates our relationship with
specific. Decay of matter happens in the
both space and time; we dwell both in
contact of external forces and the exact
space and time, and architecture needs to
way and pace are directed by the specific
“tame” both dimensions for us. I see this
climatic conditions, biodiversity and even
mediating task of architecture as more
pollution of that place. Even though the act
important than any subjective artistic
of weathering is perceived as a subtraction
expression.
and, undoubtedly, in the end that it is, but
Juhani Pallasmaa (Amundsen, 2018)
before that happens, weathering adds a physical layer of time on architecture.
In her essay “Environmental Infrastructures:
And before the architecture weakens,
From
Lola
in some cases, it can grow stronger. For
Sheppard clearly states that architecture
example traditional peat huts of the Sami
is now changing from closed envelopes
people become more dense and stronger
to something that is responsive to the
over time as the gravity compresses the
environment and adjustable to constantly
material together and the southern façade
changing surrounding forces. (Sheppard,
of the Wilderness church in Inari has been
2013) Embedded in that is the factor of
burned by the sun making the timber
time and with that impermanence and
actually more resistant to decay.1
Bubbles
to
Territories”,
inevitable decay. Examples of explorations in the matter
Pictures in the appendix
1
41
03.12
6 - Time
1 sun 11.0 sing t ri Firs
Polar night
ible Vis
FR EE ZE
POLAR NIGH T
NO VE
MB
s
SN
ali
ST
re bo
FIR
ER
rora
au
DE EP
DECEMBER
RY UA
N JA
OW L
L FA
B TO OC
UA RY
Dreamers
FE
ER
BR
Politicians Scientists Locals
MARCH
RUSKA
SEPTEMBER
First
T
US
AP
AU G
RIL
LY SP EAR
RING
Aurora Borealis season ends
night
U
DA UT
WIL
JU
MN
MA Y
LY
ST
RV E
HA
In
JUNE
le
ib vis ra ro au lis
a re
bo EL T
GM
RIN
SP
MIDSU
MMER
.07
22
31.0
5
Spri n 25.0 g flood 5
21.0
5
Midnight sun
6.2 Mapping of the cyclic time scale. 42
Au ro sea ra B so orea nb eg lis ins
cold
6 - Time
of weathering, have quite often remained
architecture but the built environment has
in the area of “architectural skin care�
the power to change these shifts. It can be
– a surface level tests of the decay that
considered as an exciting design agent but
add a poetic layer of impermanence
it also creates a schizophrenic situation,
without allowing fundamental change
where if something is created for a certain
of the design.1 That might be because
future scenario, the same thing ensures
according
that the imagined future will actually never
to
Martin
Prominski,
a
professor in the Faculty of Architecture
happen.
of Leibniz University, such overlapping of different and complex environments, time
This project tries to go beyond the surface
spans, shifting realities and inevitable
level poetic layer and explore what can
disintegration, also poses humility to the
be added to the program and changed
architects as the evolution of their design
in the behavior of people, when parts of
is left to the almost unpredictable future
the design are allowed to disintegrate
developments of natural and cultural
completely. The design decisions in this
processes, that are independent from the
project take into account various scales
designer. And that is something architects
as well different understandings and
are not used to. (Prominski, 2005)
concepts of time.
At the same time, thinking about the
/.../ the first theatre play I organized here2,
inevitable decay of a design and possible
no tickets were sold in advance. It turned
ways of curating the processes to a
out that people do not like to make fixed
certain extent also feeds the selfish and
plans as the conditions during that event
domination seeking soul of a man by
can be perfect for skiing or fishing instead
offering a chance to gain back even a slight
/.../
control over time. Because considering
Katariina Guttorm, Sajos culture center in
imperfections in the design that the
Inari, Finland3
inevitable weathering brings, makes the architecture both caught up in time as well
The knowledge of the Sami people was
as independent from it.
gained through shared experience and repeated activities based on situations
It is important to realize that time and
in the cycle of nature creating cyclic
shifts over time do not only affect the
understanding of time.
Some examples include Carlo Scarpa Banca Popolare and Herzog and De Meuron Studio Remy Zaugg 2 In Sami cultural center Sajos in Inari 3 Fragments from conversations with the locals during the study trip to Inari and Karasjok
1
43
6 - Time
HUMAN BODY
Average life expectancy among Samis: 75 // 80 years
50
100
Average life expectancy in Finland: 78 // 84 years Average life expectancy in the EU: 75 // 82 years
TIMBER
Most common trees in Lapland: pine; spruce; birch
Depends on the environment and how soft or hard the timber is. Can vary from couple of years to couple of hundred years. Traditionally used in Sami architecture
SNOW
The cover of winter snow drifts creates an aditional layer of insulation from the cold. New snow is composed of a high percentage of air. As the air can barely move, the heat transfer is greatly reduced. Local and seasonal material
PEAT
Goathe - a shelter made out of sod bricks, can last more than 10 years. Throughout the passage of time, the material actually melds together becoming more solid and permanent with age.
Traditionally used in Sami architecture
World’s purest gold can be found from the Ivalojoki and Lemmenjoki.
GOLD
Local material in Lapland
GRANITE
Granite can mainly be found in the south and middle of Finland. Finns have a long history of carving the stone.
Local material in Finland
CONCRETE
Over time the surface of glass will absorb some moisture and the outer layer will crystalize and start flaking. However, the process is extremely slow and it takes glass 1-2 million years to decompose. Best material to use in the water
GLASS
Over time the surface of glass will absorb some moisture and the outer layer will crystalize and start flaking. However, the process is extremely slow and it takes glass 1-2 million years to decompose.
6.3 Exploration of local materials and the entropy of matter. 44
150
200
250
300
350
400
6 - Time
This contrasts to the western time that
ENTROPY
is based on careful observations of the
The degree of disorder or uncertanty in a
position of the stars and the planets
system;
made by a minority of the population.
The degradation of the matter and energy
In Sami culture, knowing what natural
in the universe to an ultimate state of inert
phenomenon was happening had a higher
uniformity;
importance than knowing the exact time.
Inevitable terminal stage in the life of a
(Redding, n.d.) The daily decisions are even
social system or structure.
now made more based on what occurs in the nature rather than time. By living in flux
Greek: En - within; trop-root - change
together with natural cycles, the locals are extremely aware of their surroundings and
This project also considers the linear
the shifts in nature over time.
time span of the large scale geological processes like the changing of the river
The proposed project takes into account
bed and inevitable entropy as everything
the cyclic nature of time in the form of
material
repetitive
disintegration.
natural
phenomenons
like
is
sentenced
to
ultimate
horizontal spring flooding or vertical flooding of snow in the winter. But due to
TIME SCALES AFFECTING THE CHOSEN
climatic shifts, these events, even though
SITE AND ARCHITECTURES
still happening every year, are changing
Scale
Phenomenons Time concept
year after year in a linear way – warming
Seasonal
Flooding, Plant
Climatic
More rapid
harvesting
temperatures increase the snow fall that contributes to more severe spring floods.
floodings, changes in biodiversity
Entropy is the general trend of the universe toward death and disorder James R. Newman
Cyclic
Material
Linear at least to some extent1 Inevitably
decay
linear
Riverbed change Geological Linear changes
and disappearance of the site
1
Even if everyone would change their habits today and the global carbon mission would be drastically cut, it will take about two decades for the mitigating effects to appear. 45
7 - Resist and resign
7.1 An early collage exploring an extreme resistance to climate change. 46
7 - Resist and resign
RESIST AND RESIGN
TO RESIST
enough for people to not have an
To fight against something; To refuse to
awareness of them. By manifesting the
accept or be changed by something
fragility of the environment in architecture, a sense of urgency to the proposed
TO RESIGN
program is created.
To make yourself accept something that you do not like because you cannot change it Proposed architectural and programmatic ambitions are clearly contradicting. On one hand, this project aims to bring awareness and increase the understanding about climate change on a high political level to create an environment to support decisions to resist it. And on the other hand it invites the shifting and hostile environment and time to change the architecture and behavior of the people. Even though changes in the nature are happening faster than ever documented before, they are still happening slowly
47
8 - Key rules for architectural decisions
Circular debating chamber encourages larger scale collaboration and supports closeness. Circular seating formation is also familiar to the local indigenous people reminding the traditional way of sitting around a fire.
Architectural nooks and other smaller in scale spaces to encourage sharing and discussion.
The act of queuing supports small scale sharing and discussion to take place.
Sauna is a place for a small scale discussion and reflection.
Toilet is the a place for a short break and can give time for solitude and personal reflection.
8.1 Early collages about spaces for discussion and reflection 48
8 - Key rules for architectural decisions
KEY RULES FOR ARCHITECTURAL DECISIONS
Long ago, animals and other beings
Architectural decisions in this project
would regularly meet to discuss their
are
mostly
made
to
encourage
problems. Much wisdom came out of these
interaction between the characters and
discussions.
the surroundings by overlapping and
From Sami fairytale “Two kinds of dogs”
intertwining functions and spaces. A lot
(Helander-Renvall, 2015)
of inspiration is gained from vernacular building techniques of the people living
However, though the Sámi have a
in this extreme environment and the local
flourishing tradition of extremely detailed
stories.
and ornamented handicrafts associated with other levels of Sámi culture, the new
This project proposes an official debating
cottages of the Skolt are strikingly bare.
chamber for the embassy1, but often, the
This may be the result of the role of shelter
best conversations happen in an unofficial
in Sámi culture. In a transient society, the
environments. Therefore this thesis also
Home is not necessarily the object in which
explores, where and how these informal
they take shelter. Instead, especially for
encounters might take place. Smoking
the Sámi, nature begins to assume the role
corners, nooks in places, where there
of the Home. In this way, the shelter is no
can be queuing and saunas are created
more than a place to sleep in, instead of a
for more personal discussions. Next to
glorified extension of identity as it is in a
debate, spaces for reflection are also
western perspective.
important. The second site next to the
Analysis of the Skolt Sami buildings after
main one, is chosen mainly for that but
the resettlement of their
also inside the main complex, moments of
community in 1946 by the Soviet government (Emmons, 2004)
Debating chamber explorations can be found in the appendix
1
49
N
N
8 - Key rules for architectural decisions
Snow fall measure
Insulation
8.2 Dwelling and jam production section inspired by the three layers in a section of an igloo - heating, drying, dwelling. 50
8 - Key rules for architectural decisions
solitude are explored.
KAAMOS The polar night; time, when the sun does not
To
emphasize
the
importance
of
rise above the horizon2
the surroundings, instead of straight connections between functions, a longer
The site plan is also influenced by the
circular path is created. Singular curved
movement of the sun – the jam factory is
bath both through the site and through the
placed in a way to receive the afternoon
buildings, will slow down the movement
sun of the fall, while the first rising sun
and will make the path an important part
after kaamos, is directed into the main
of the experience where the awareness
debating chamber.
of the surroundings will be stimulated. By limiting circulation to a single path,
LAVVU
opportunities for interaction with other
Temporay dwelling of the Sami people. A
workers and visitors are encouraged.
tent like timber structure with a circular plan
Using a curve makes the center of the site
that resembles a Native American tipi but is
important and by leaving the center empty,
lower and more stable in the wind
it emphasizes the relevance of the nature. By a deliberate and fast decay of the path,
The main challenge in this area is to create
the way the people inhabit the site and the
thermal comfort for the people. Inspired
relationship with it, will be changed. Now,
by the section of an igloo and the plan of a
the workers need to find their own routes
lavvu and the fact that the warm air rises
through the landscape.
up, ways to achieve the comfort through a more low-tech solutions are explored
People, who have lost their way during long
in this project. First important lesson
period of darkness, can look at the first
was to reduce the surface area of the
rising sun through a red circle to find their
building that is in contact with the external
way back.
environment to reduce heat loss. Snow
1
Advice from Sami traditional medicine
is also a great insulation material due to the created air pockets (Emmons, 2004) and this property of the snow is used by the local animals, who hibernate under the
It is actually found that the Samis experience less depression due to the winter darkness than other nordic people 2 Kaamos around lake Inari lasts from early December to around mid January. The fact that the sun itself is not seen above the horizon, does not mean that it is completely dark outside. As the sunrays still bend over the horizon, the light situation resembles more of a constant state of twilight. As the snow is also a great light reflector, the darkest time is actually just before the snow fall. 1
51
8 - Key rules for architectural decisions
SNOW COLLECTION ON THE SHELVES ON THE FACADE
SNOW COLLECTION ON THE SHELVES ON THE FACADE
SNOW COLLECTION ON THE SHELVES ON THE FACADE
SNOW COLLECTION ON THE SHELVES ON THE FACADE BY CREATING WIND TURBULENCE
8.3 Explorations of snow collection on a facade in concept models. 52
8 - Key rules for architectural decisions
snow, as well as the local people, whose tent-like structures are great to collect snow in the winter, therefore this project also explores ways to collect snow on the facades. Impact of the cold environment can be reduced by filtering the air through a series of differently protected spaces or by creating a cold air pockets. A cold air pocket is created, when an entrance point to the heated space is placed on a lower level. Cold air gets trapped, while only the warm air rises up. Vertical placements of the functions are strongly inspired by the section of an igloo, where there is a fire on the ground level, wet clothes are hung above the fire to dry, and sleeping is placed on the top. This layering of heating – drying – dwelling is also used in this project. Spring floods dictate the shape and the materiality of the lower parts of the building. Concrete is used as it is the most resistant to the floods and cycles of freezing and melting. Rounded shapes are used to create continuous flow of the water and to collect less sediments due to turbulences.
53
9 - Sustainability approach
SUSTAINABILITY APPROACH
This project strives for holistic sustainable
material instead. This proposal also
approach but the proposal focuses on
explores how thermal comfort could
two main aspects. First is manifested in
be achieved by a flow through different
the chosen program of an embassy for a
spaces of diverse levels of openess and
climate change. This master thesis aims
protectiveness and uses the idea of the
to criticize the passiveness of the world
warm air movement upwards to inform the
leaders about the climate change issue
vertical placement of the functions. This
and discusses how stronger awareness
project discusses how architecture can be
could be created by overlapping the
made to be in flux with the nature, instead
function with natural forces and people
of shielding itself from it.
with expertise in different fields to start intense debate on a political level.
Used materials are chosen based on their locality and necessary environmental
Secondly, the architecture of the project
criterias. Conrete is used as the ground
strives to be extremely location specific
level material, eventhough not sustainable
by taking into account local natural
in terms of CO2 emissions during the
phenomenons like spring floods and
production of the material, it is quite long
heavy snow fall. By learning from the
lasting and resistant to the flooding and
local knowledge and translating it into a
freezing. Granite was also considered
project, extreme conditions can be used
as it is a local Finnish material but was
to positively influence the design. For
eventually disregarded due to difficulty of
example, instead of seeing snow as a
processing. Timber is widely used in both
problem, it can be used as an insulation
Sami as well as in Finnish architecture,
54
9 - Sustainability approach
which means there is already an existing
the water affect the material, moss and
base of local knowledge and is therefore
algae are allowed to start growing on it
the second chosen material for this
making the architecture an indicator of
project. Timber is also considered great
overlapping territories of different species.
in terms of carbon emissions, longevity
It is also a sign, that after timber has
depends on the treatment and highly on
decayed, remaining concrete traces can
the detailing.
be taken over by the nature and broken into pieces over time.
By adding the layer of time to this proposal, questions about used materials become relevant design agents: how does the material perform over time; how does it decay; what is the impact of the used material not only during the production of the material but also during the deterioration process. For timber the decay can vary from couple of years to couple of hundred years and the end result is the same - the material turns into soil. Timber also starts showing signs of weathering quite fast by turning grey in color.1 Concrete never dissoves but breaks into smaller and smaller pieces. By letting
1
or burnt on the south side like it has happened to the facade of the Wilderness church in Inari. Picture in the appendix. 55
10 - Reflection
REFLECTION
This project started off by looking into the
limit) I could never fully comprehend the
Sami culture but has since then changed
complexities of the local environmental,
its focus to be more about creating
social and cultural characteristics. While
awareness about climate change and the
doing this project I have had to rely on
effects of it on a political level and offering
research and heavy data as well as my
a space for debate and reflection in a form
personal experience. Local information of
of an embassy. As the project developed,
the people, their relationship with nature,
a program of traditional introverted and
stories and myths are in this project by
protected embassy was questioned and
default interpreted through my foreign
the proposed program was contaminated
biased filter but hopefully this does not
by different time scales, other characters
make them less relevant because of it.
and functions. Throughout the process, inspiration was drawn from the knowledge
This project creates a tension within
of the indigenous peoples of the north
itself between the proposed program and
and their vernacular building techniques
architectural ambitions, discussed in this
for this extreme environment and stories
report before. The proposal and especially
of the local Sami people informed many
the idea of a rapid decay of the path,
architectural decisions.
can raise a question about why to build something in the first place just to curate
I realize that even though I am from a Finno-
its decay as it is quite contradicting and,
Ugric country myself, I am still a foreigner
when seen through the lens of material
in the context of Finland and Sami culture
resources, not sustainable. First and
and as an outsider (and also with the time
foremost, this project aims to bring up
56
10 - Reflection
a discussion about the role and value of
the materials decay, the actual function of
time and decay in architecture but more
the architecture can be rendered obsolete
specifically in this project, the decay is
instead. Given more time, I would have
used to manifest the fragility of the nature
really liked to explore how environmental
and great shifts in the environment, which
changes could also affect the program
can be too slow for us to perceive. Partial
and the use of the created spaces. Can
disintegration of the proposal aims to
the embassy offices could be used for
create awareness in the users of the
something else; is the program going
building and to add a layer of urgency to
to change from something land-based
the program and maybe give perspective
to something water-based as the river
to the people as described by the American
carves away the site; is the proposed berry
architect Lebbeus Woods:
preservation workshops going to process something else, as the local biodiversity
Inevitable decay of buildings puts
and therefore maybe the habits of the
architecture in a unique position to inform
people will change due to climate change.
our understanding of the human condition
These things would have been impossible
and enhance its experience.
to predict but interesting to explore.
Lebbeus Woods (Woods, 2012) Passage of time does not only create changes in materials but also unpredictable shifts in society, climate, economy and our habits. Therefore I understand that before
57
11 - Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Amundsen, M., 2018. Q&A with Juhani Pallasmaa on Architecture, Aesthetics of Atmospheres and the Passage of Time. Ambiances. Arctic, c., n.d. Arctic-council. [Online] Available at: https:// arctic-council.org/index.php/en/ [Accessed 02 06 2019].
Helander-Renvall, E., 2015. Silde. Sami Mythic Texts and Stories. 5th ed. Finland: Erweko OY.
Aurora, S., 2012. Aurora-service. [Online] [Accessed 2 06 2019].
Lawrence, W., 2011. Global Nonviolent Action Database. [Online] Available at: https:// nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/saamiand-norwegians-protest-construction-alta-damnorway-1979-1981 [Accessed 28 05 2019].
Cain, F., 2009. Universe today. [Online] Available at: https://www.universetoday.com/39937/ albedo-effect/[Accessed 28 5 2019]. Emmons, R., 2004. Sami Culture. [Online] Available at: https://www.laits.utexas.edu/ sami/dieda/anthro/architecture.htm [Accessed 02 06 2019]. Fazekas, A., 2016. National Geographic. [Online] Available at: https://news.nationalgeographic. com/2016/06/auroras-sounds-noisesexplained-earth-space-astronomy/ [Accessed 28 5 2019]. Fenno-Ugria, M., 2019. Fenno-Ugria. [Online] Available at: https://fennougria.ee/rahvad/ laanemeresoome-rahvad/ [Accessed 02 06 2019].
58
koulutuskeskus, S., n.d. Sogsakk. [Online] Available at: http://www.sogsakk.fi/%2Fen [Accessed 02 06 2019].
Mack, T., 2016. The Futures Centre. [Online] Available at: https://thefuturescentre.org/ articles/6915/what-does-arctic-amplificationmean-planet [Accessed 28 5 2019]. Magga, O.-H. & Skutnabb-Kangas, T., 2001. Cultural Survival. [Online] Available at: https:// www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/culturalsurvival-quarterly/saami-languages-presentand-future [Accessed 02 06 2019]. Metsähallitus, n.d. Nationalparks. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationalparks.fi/ thesamiworldviewandmythology [Accessed 02 06 2019].
11 - Bibliography
Nilsen, T., 2017. The Barents Observer. [Online] Available at: https://thebarentsobserver.com/ en/life-and-public/2017/06/sami-concernedabout-arctic-railway-plans [Accessed 28 5 2019]. Perry, P., 2016. [Online] Available at: https:// bigthink.com/philip-perry/does-the-languagewe-speak-affect-our-perception-of-reality [Accessed 7 February 2019]. Prominski, M., 2005. Designing Landscapes as Evolutionary Systems. The Design Journal, pp. 25-34. Redding, S., n.d. Sami Culture. [Online] Available at: https://www.laits.utexas.edu/sami/dieda/ anthro/concept-time.htm [Accessed 02 06 2019]. Roto, J., 2015. Nordregio. [Online] Available at: http://www.nordregio.org/maps/samilanguages-and-dialects/ [Accessed 2 06 2019]. Saami, c., n.d. Samiraddi. [Online] Available at: http://www.saamicouncil.net/en/about-saamicouncil/ [Accessed 02 06 2019].
Sheppard, L., 2013. Environmental Infrastructures: From Bubbles to Territories. s.l., s.n. Smith, L., 2011. The New North. s.l.:Profile Books. Sutherland, A., 2016. Ancient Pages. [Online] Available at: http://www.ancientpages. com/2016/09/25/sami-people-facts-andhistory-about-the-only-indigenous-people-ofmost-northern-europe/ [Accessed 02 06 2019]. Wing, T., 2017. Climate Institute. [Online] Available at: http://climate.org/climate-changegreen-development-and-the-indigenousstruggle-for-cultural-preservation-in-arcticnorway/ [Accessed 7 February 2019]. Woods, L., 2012. Inevitable Architecture. [Online] Available at: https://lebbeuswoods.wordpress. com/2012/07/09/inevitable-architecture/ [Accessed 9 December 2018]. Wookey, P., 2015. Arctic Amplification. s.l.:s.n.
59
12 - Illustrations
ILLUSTRATIONS
1.1 Made by the author Based on: Smith, L., 2011. The New North. s.l.:Profile Books. 1.2 Made by the author Based on: Smith, L., 2011. The New North. s.l.:Profile Books. 1.3 Made by the author Based on: Studies, N. G. I. f. S., 2018. NASA Global Climate Change. [Online] Available at: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2683/january2018-was-fifth-warmest-january-on-record/ [Accessed 2 06 2019]. 1.4 Made by the author Based on: University, S., n.d. Bolin Centre for Climate Research. [Online] Available at: https:// bolin.su.se/data/ncscd/ [Accessed 2 05 2019]. 2.1 Made by the author Based on: Roto, J., 2015. Nordregio. [Online] Available at: http://www.nordregio.org/maps/ sami-languages-and-dialects/ [Accessed 2 06 2019]. 3.3 Made by the author Based on: Agency, E. E., 2003. European
60
Environment Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/ data/digital-map-of-european-ecologicalregions [Accessed 2 06 2019]. 5.1 Made by the author Based on: Economics, A., 2008. Arctic Economics. [Online] Available at: h t t p s : // b e n m u s e . t y p e p a d . c o m / a r c t i c _ economics/2008/04/us-ice-breaking.html [Accessed 2 06 2019]. 13.13 SYKE, n.d. [Online] Available at: https://kartta. paikkatietoikkuna.fi/?lang=en [Accessed 2 06 2019] 13.4 - 13.8 Made by the author Based on: Commission, E., n.d. European Commission. [Online] Available at: http:// ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ conservation/species/redlist/index_en.htm [Accessed 2 06 2019].
12 - Illustrations
13.14 Made by the author Based on: Finland, N. l. s. o., n.d. National land survey of Finland. [Online] Available at: https:// tiedostopalvelu.maanmittauslaitos.fi/tp/ kartta?lang=en [Accessed 2 06 2019]. 12.34 Author: Juha Kauppinen https://www.lapland.fi/film/locations/ 12.35 Author: Terhi Tuovinen https://www.lapland.fi 12.36 Author: Stefano Zaccaria https://www.shutterstock.com/fi/imagephoto/beautiful-landscape-lake-inari-duringmidnight-744128044 12.37 Author: Kari Siren https://inktank.fi/ruska-finland-autumn-colors 13.22 Drawing of interior of Eskimo igloo, 1916, from U.S. Library of Congress. Original title: Interior of Eskimo igloo Call number: LOT 11453-5, no. 14 [P&P] Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-132784
61
13 - Appendix
13.1 Scandinavian montane birch forest and grassland in 2019 62
13 - Appendix
13.2 Scandinavian and russian taiga in 2019 63
13 - Appendix
13.3 Sarmativ mixed forest in 2019 64
13 - Appendix
EX
EW
RE
CR
EN
VU
1
0
0
5
8
13
Rorippa valdes-bermejoi
Isoetes heldreichii
Apium bermejoi
Isoetes boryana
Eryngium viviparum
13.4 Threatened endemic aquatic plant species in Europe 65
13 - Appendix
EX
EW
RE
CR
EN
VU
0
0
1
10
11
16
Asplenium auritum
Hymenophyllum maderense
Isoetes heldreichii
13.5 Threatened endemic lycopod and fern plant species in Europe 66
Asplenium anceps
Botrychium simplex
13 - Appendix
EX
EW
RE
CR
EN
VU
0
0
1
19
22
25
Allium corsicum
Crambe sventenii
Avena insularis
Brassica hilarionis
Medicago rupestris
13.6 Threatened endemic crop wild relative plant species in Europe 67
13 - Appendix
EX
EW
RE
CR
EN
VU
3
3
0
106
153
141
Aeonium balsamiferum
Adenocarpus ombriosus
Bromus interruptus
13.7 Threatened endemic policy plant species in Europe 68
Bupleurum dianthifolium
Moehringia fontqueri
13 - Appendix
EX
EW
RE
CR
EN
VU
0
0
0
0
6
3
Artemisia granatensis
Sideritis reverchonii
Atropa baetica
Crataegus nigra
Himantoglossum comperianum
13.8 Threatened endemic medicinal plant species in Europe 69
13 - Appendix
More common
More common
More common
The most important
Lingonberry
Crowberry
Blueberry
Cloudberry
Rowanberry
Wild raspberry
Juniper berry
Wild strawberry
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
Cranberry
September
October
November
December
November
December
Lingonberry Crowberry Blueberry Cloudberry Cranberry Rowanberry Wild raspberry Juniper berry Wild strawberry
Used as a herb
January
Garden angelica
Eaten raw or cooked
Eaten raw or dried
Alpine sow-thistle
Garden angelica
February
March
Sorrel
April
May
June
July
stems
Sorrel harvested from fallen trees
13.9 Traditionally harvested plants and their harvesting time 70
August
September roots
Alpine sow-thistle
Scots pine inner bark
Eaten roasted, dried or fresh Inner bark of scots pine
October
13 - Appendix
BIFURCATED SEATING
SCHOOL OF ATHENS
Consists of two opposing seating areas Encourages oppositional debate, maximum confrontation
Open forum of debate Encourages debate between two people or smaller group of people
ROMAN SENATE // PARLIAMENTS OF THE UK
RAPHAEL 1511
FAN SHAPED SEATING
FRANCE’S CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES // U.S. SENATE // GERMAN BUNDESTAG
This form was adabted in contrast to the fragmentation of the British configuration. Debate is focused towards the speaker.
THE AGNEW CLINIC
THOMAS EAKINS 1889
The scene shows full circle auditorium, attention is concentrated to the center. Steep steps create an intense atmosphere.
HYBRID SEATING
CIRCULAR
IRELAND’S DAIL EIREANN // CZECH CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES // JAFAR HALL
TRADITIONAL LAYOUT OF SAMI LAVVU
Hybrid form combines two opposing sides, curved or straight end and a focus point.
In a traditional lavvu, people were seated in a circular way around the fire. Circular form is used to support closeness and collaboration-style discourse.
13.10 Analysis of the arrangement of a debating chamber 71
13 - Appendix
COUNTRY SCALE
Number of members in the Finnish parliament: Number of members in the Sami parliament in Finland:
ARCTIC SCALE
200 21 + 4
Number of participants in the Arctic Council meetings:
EUROPEAN SCALE
131
(Anchorage 2015)
Number of participants in European Climate Change Adaptation conferece:
850
(Glasgow 2017)
13.11 Locations and scale of climate change related events held in Europe 72
WORLD SCALE
Number of participants in Conference of the Parties:
15 000
(paris 2015)
13 - Appendix
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
15 14
N
S 13
9
S
N
12
N
S
11
N
S 10 9
S
N
17
18
N 7
S
16
4 8
19
17
1
N
S 7 6 2
S
N
N
N
5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Finnish Estonian Hungarian Saami Livonian Ingrian and Votian Karelian Vepsian Nenets Komi Mansi Khanty Enets Selkup Nganasan Udmurt Mari Erzya Moksha
W
500 km
S
S 3
W
500 km
W
500 km
W
500 km
W
500 km
W
500 km
W
500 km
W
13.12 Mapping of Finno-Ugric nations 73
13 - Appendix
20 YEAR FLOOD
50 YEAR FLOOD
100 YEAR FLOOD
250 YEAR FLOOD
500 YEAR FLOOD
13.13 Ivalojoki flooding 74
13 - Appendix
13.14 River traces 75
13 - Appendix
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
Akka hill
1000 m
E
1000 m
W
E
1000 m
W
1000 m
1000 m
E
1000 m
W
Ukko island
E
W
S
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
S
1000 m
S
1000 m
Akka hill
400 m
400 m
800 m
1000 m
S
800 m
1000 m
S
0m
0m
Ukko island
1000 m
13.15 Twins in the landscape 76
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
13 - Appendix
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
1000 m
N
Ukonsaari
1000 m
W
E
1000 m
E
1000 m
W
1000 m
E
1000 m
W
1000 m
1000 m
E
1000 m
W
Kalkuvaara
W
1000 m
1000 m
E
W
E S
S
1000 m
S
1000 m
1000 m
S
1000 m
1000 m
S
1000 m
1000 m
S
1000 m
1000 m
S
1000 m
800 m 400 m
400 m
800 m
1200 m
1000 m
1000 m
1200 m
1000 m
1000 m
0m
Ukonsaari
0m
Kalkuvaara
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
1000 m
13.16 Twins in the landscape 77
13 - Appendix
HOURS OF DAYLIGHT AND TWILIGHT 24 hr Jun 21 20 hr
16 hr
12 hr
Mar 20
Sep 23
8 hr
4 hr Dec 22 Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Day
May
Jun
Jul
Civil twilight
Aug
Nautical twilight
Sep
Oct
Astronomical twilight
Nov
Dec
Night
AVERAGE SNOWFALL AMOUNT
40 cm
30 cm
20 cm
10 cm
2014
Snow days
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Average snowfall amount
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
PREVAILING WINDS N
NW
20 C°
NE
10 C° 0 C° W
-10 C°
E
-20 C°
2014
2016
Maximum temperature Minimum temperature
2018 SW
SE
S
13.17 Local climatic characteristics 78
13 - Appendix
21. JUNE Summer solstice
21. MARCH // SEPTEMBER Spring and autumn equinox
N
N
02:00
25° 38°
:00
23
:00
316°
10°
03:0 0
00:0
0
329°
04
0
NE
22
:00
05
:00
21
92°
E
W 267°
19:00 18:00
09:0
0
07:09 Sunrise
19:00
0
20:0
08:00
08:00
17:0
10
:00 252°
0
:00
0
223°
175°
S
S
21. DECEMBER Winter solstice
16. JANUARY The end of the polar night
N
N
0
16
:00
E
W
E
W
13:00
189°
S
8 12:0 e ris Sun
SW
14:00 14:3 Suns 5 et
SE
SW
NE
NW
NE
NW
SE
159° 192°
176°
127°
143° 207°
157°
:00 11
13:00
0 12:0
:00
SW
14:00
SE
15
195°
:00
138°
214°
237°
114°
:00
16
231°
SW
123°
E 99°
09:0
10
17
:00
107°
0
11
13:00
12:0
:00
14:00
15
247°
78°
07:00
275°
262°
65°
0
06:0
18:0
290°
W
NE
NW
51°
:0
303°
19:31 Sunset
NW
358°
01:00
343°
SE
175°
S
13.18 Sun path 79
13 - Appendix
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
13.19 Political tectonics in the EU 80
13 - Appendix
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2
3
4
5
6
7
The dome of Florence Cathedral // 1436 // Filippo Brunelleschi // Religious space The dome of Parliament of Hungary // 1902 // Imre Steindl // Political space The Dome of Visions // 2014 // Kristoffer Tejlgaard and Benny Jepsen // Social space Igloo // Shelter Sami turf house // Shelter The Forest Temple // 2016 // Marco Casagrande // Social space The dome of German parliament // 1999 // Norman Foster // Political space
13.20 Dome analysis 81
13 - Appendix
Ground floor
DUTCH EMBASSY IN ETHIOPIA // 1-500
First floor
Ambassador’s private quarters // 550 m2 Administration // 1080 m2 Entrance, reception and library // 240 m2
FRENCH EMBASSY IN HAITI // 1-500 Ground floor
First floor
Utility rooms, archives // 156 m2 Bathrooms // 150 m2 Entrance and reception // 142 m2 Library // 65 m2 Offices // 685 m2 Meeting spaces including kitchen // 150 m2
DUTCH EMBASSY IN JORDAN // 1-500 Ground floor
More public meeting room
Utility rooms, archives // 60 m2 Bathrooms // 16,5 m2 Entrance and reception // 100 m2 Offices // 256 m2 Meeting spaces // 120 m2
13.21 Traditional embassy program and organization 82
First floor
Unofficial meeting room
13 - Appendix
13.22 Drawing of an igloo // 13.23 Section of an igloo 83
13 - Appendix
13.24 // 13.25 Landscape around frozen lake Inari. Photos taken during the study trip to north of Finland 84
13 - Appendix
13.26 // 13.27 Landscape around frozen lake Inari. Photos taken during the study trip to north of Finland 85
13 - Appendix
13.28 // 13.29 // 13.30 Examples of local Sami architecture and structures. Photos taken during the study trip to north of Finland. 86
13 - Appendix
13.31 // 13.32 // 13.33 Examples of local Sami architecture and structures. Photos taken during the study trip to north of Finland. 87
13 - Appendix
13.34 Northern lights // 13.35 Polar night twilight in Lapland 88
13 - Appendix
13.36 Midnight sun at lake Inari // 13.37 Ruska season in Lapland 89