PROGRESSIVE GREENING urban design IV
Group 07 | Emmi Villberg, Elisa Enlund, Ezgi Samanci, Johanna Partanen, Sila Kartal
Table of contents
Contents ................................................................................................3 1.Analysis and synthesis Identifying regional phenomena......................................................4 Introduction of the area................................................ Regioinal analysis maps.................................................6-9 Synthesis of the analysis.................................................................... Swot analysis....................................................................5 Strategic questions and goals..........................................................10 2.Regional strategy Scenarios and foresight......................................................................11 Positive scenario............................................................ Neutral scenario............................................................ Negative scenario.......................................................... Introduction to the strategy..............................................................12 Theme map.....................................................................12 Progressive greening map...........................................13 Urban networks..............................................................14 Timeline............................................................................15
Future vision and spatialisation of the strategy...........................16 Land use planning.........................................................16-17 Vertical farming spatialisation....................................18-19 Public transportation....................................................20-21 Allotments spatialisation..............................................22-23 3. References Bibliography..........................................................................................24 Image sources......................................................................................24
Growth triangle: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku
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Growth corridor thematic map
CLIMATE CRISIS AFFECTS EVERYBODY
KANTA-HÄME IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE GROWING CITIES
Climate change affecting the whole world, including Finland and Kanta-Häme, is part of the current vision as the climate crisis deepens. With current actions, the climate could warm by up to 2.5 degrees, with global catastrophic effects on, among other things, the ecosystem and weather conditions. For example, rain and floods, as well as heat waves, will hit northern Europe. Thus, the cities of the future cannot be planned without taking into account climate factors, and climate action also requires the involvement of municipalities and decision-makers. (European Commision, 2021)
Analyzing the geographical location of Kanta-Häme region, it is clear that the region is located in the middle of three growing cities in Southern Finland. According to forecasts, these three cities; Helsinki, Tampere and Turku will be Finland's only groth centers in the future. Kanta-Häme is therefore located in the middle of these three cities, but according to forecasts, it will not grow in itself. Growth Corridor Finland extends in the direction of Tampere and Helsinki. Most of the Kanta-Hame region is located within
this region. Hämeenlinna and Riihimäki, the largest cities in the region, are also located in this corridor. More than 50 % of Finland’s GDP is produced in this area. As Helsinki and Tampere contribute the most to GDP, they have the potential to create a tunnel effect in the area between them. However, Kanta-Häme has a potential to be greener while contributing to the GDP with existing infrastructure they have and prevent a possible tunnel effect.
Hämeenlinna population thematic map 1: 70 000 1 to 50
Water and roads
51 to 150 151 to 300 301 to 500 501 to 1000
CLOSED LANDFILLS Remnants are areas that are undevelopable due to size, topography, or other features. Sometimes the use of the area changes, and we are faced with a problem of unideal topography or contaminated soil. So can be the case with closed landfills, for example. Even after a succesful re-vegetation, the landfill is not suited for every possible use due to former pollution. Anyway, more greenery including tree and flower planting, can be introduced to the former landfills. Sometimes sites are empty because they are reserves for future development. Establishing allotments and parks are examples of the future use of sites whose current functions are coming to an end.
POPULATION THEMATIC MAP This thematic map indicates how the population is located in Hämeenlinna centrum area. Dark red indicates the most density in population and light yellow the least. The map shows how the population is concentrated near the infra-
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structure, such as train tracks and large road networks. In addition, the population is at its highest in the center-area near the services and the farther from the urban area, the fewer people live there.
Buffers held open around other infrastructure cannot be filled with vast amounts of built structures, but they are great places for planting trees and other plants to improve the landscape. Temporarily obsolete, abandoned, or derelict sites (TOADS), including brownfields and abandoned inner city, are often considered to be areas that only reduce the value of other plots in the area. (Rethinking urban transformation: Temporary uses for vacant land, 2013) The closed landfills illustration indicates the different kind of land areas in Hämeenlinna region and where they are approximately located.
KANTA-HÄME POPULATION The three largest cities in Kanta-Häme are Hämeenlinna, Riihimäki and Forssa. Of those cities, Hämeenlinna has the largest population (67,000 inhabitants), Riihimäki the second largest (28,000 inhabitants) and Forssa the smallest population (16,000 inhabitants). (Hämeen liitto: maaliskuun 2020 väestökatsaus) The development of the population of Kanta-Häme is shown in the bar chart of years 1980-2017. The chart shows the longterm development of the region's population and shows that the region's population has been declining since 2013. Looking at the location of Kanta-Häme in the middle of other cities in the growth triangle, as well as the development of the region's population, we believe that the region is not able to compete with the surrounding big cities with urban development alone. Instead, we believe that the area will invite residents in the future by identifying the province by utilizing the rich and natural resources that the province already contains.
FORSSA
RIIHIMÄKI HÄMEENLINNA
W O
180000 175000 170000 165000 160000 155000 150000
2017
2015
2010
2005
2000
1995
1990
1985
145000 1980
Kanta-Häme population 1980-2017
S
T
Kanta-Häme is located in the intersection of 3 major cities. So it is located in the "Growth Triangle". Growth triangle provides easy access of education and employement opportunities for people in the region Transportation opportunities (train, flight, driveway from the other cities) One of the historical regions of Finland
Kanta-Häme's growth is dependent on other cities' situation. Density of population is not high, and the existing popoulation is getting old; while younger generation moves out to the big cities for education and employement. There is no major point of attraction in the region
Agriculture, food industry and trade provides most of the employment opportunities in the region. (other main industries: metal industry, wood processing and public administration) Lots of natural areas that can be useful for the theme.
Having businesses on national or international scale is challenging Population's situation is a problem for the country, as well as the region. Attraction is towards the major cities, not to Känta-Häme region.
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Soil and vegetation map 1: 250 000 Coniferous forest
Rock foundation
Mixed forest
Water and roads
Deciduous forest
Peatland deposit
SOIL AND VEGETATION This area map shows the main features of the terrain of Kanta-Häme. The map divides the main forest species in the area: coniferous forest, mixed forest and deciduous forest that are presented in green, yellow and white areas. In addition, the map shows peatland areas and bogs, as well as the location of the rock foundation in the area. On the map, lakes and roads are included to show the relationship of vegetation and soil to urban locations such to Hämeenlinna or Riihimäki.
The map shows that the area has a relatively lot of rich and swampy land, which are scattered mainly in the middle of the KantaHäme region. Also mainly to the area where the forest type is coniferous forest. There are relatively small amount of rock foundations and they are located mainly on the southwest-northwest axis. The map shows that both peatland areas and rocky foundation areas are mainly located outside the urban environment.
Map also indicates that the area has mostly coniferous forest and least deciduous forest which is typical for the Finnish vegetation.
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Transportation and Storage 200 to 50 to 25 to 0 to
300 100 50 25
(1) (7) (15) (246)
Agriculture & Forestry & Fishing Scale: 1:100.000
50 to 100 20 to 30 10 to 20 1 to 10
(1) (1) (11) (208)
Scale: 1:100.000
These three maps show the densities and distribution of several services in the city of Hämeenlinna, which are accomodation and food, transportation and storage and agriculture, forestry and fishing. In Hameenlinna, accomodation and food services have spread throughout the city, yet they are mainly concentrated in the city center. Of all three services, it has the highest density in the city. Transportation and storage services have the similar spread around the city, as they also spread through the city and not just being concentrated on a zone. Although the density of them is slightly less in the city center, compared to accomodation and food services. These two services mentioned support each other, therefore when one develops, the other ones develop too. Agriculture, foresty and fishing services are barely observable in the region. It is not possible to see a densed zone as well. It has a random spread around the city. However, with the existing situation of the other services that are mentioned, agriculture and food services have the potential to develop in the region. Food services in the area has quite density, therefore development in this sector would directly effect local economy of Hämeenlinna.
Accomodation and Food
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50 to 100 30 to 50 20 to 30 10 to 20 1 to 10
(6) (14) (15) (30) (168)
Scale: 1:100.000
Electric Railway
5 to 7
(9)
Weekday traffic volume
3 to 5
(112)
Friday Traffic Volume
1 to 3
(2097)
Number of bus stops and traffic volumes for Hämeenlinna are shown in the analysis map. Main traffic volume is observable through north-west, south-east direction (between Tampere-Helsinki) especially on the weekdays. On Fridays, traffic volume tends to spread through rest of the region via connecting roads.
Scale: 1:50.000
Number of bus stops gets denser in city center. Majority of the bus stops in the city is not followed by a major traffic volume, so they only serve to a small region. Already existing traffic volume shows that Hämeenlinna is suitable for connecting to other cities; still, the traffic connection within the cit center still needs to be worked on. Once easy access within the center is provided, the traffic route to other cities will be improved as well.
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STRATEGIC QUESTIONS AND GOALS
Progressive - moving forward; advancing, happening or developing gradually over a period of time LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE
GREEN TRANSPORTATION
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AREAL IDENTITY
Our plan is to respond to a scenario in Kanta-Häme, especially in the Hämeenlinna area, where global climate action has not been sufficient, but the attitude of people and decision-makers to halt the climate crisis has intensified. In a scenario where climate action has not been sufficient enough and faster solutions are needed, KantaHäme is a potential area for climate-friendly actions and being a role model of making development towards carbon neutral province. Our goal is to go progressively greener with Kanta-Häme region while emphasizing areas uniqueness and take action to enable a carbon-neutral municipality within a reasonable time. Kanta-Häme and Hämeenlinna are favorable places for progressive greening due to the area's closeness to nature, rich soil and vegetation, good transport connections and compact cities which are found from the analysis. In our plan, we aim to develop the region holistically towards carbon neutrality, but we specifically address the opportunities offered by the region to meet the goal. These opportunities brought by the area include, for example, preserving nature, well-being of forests and forest industry, increasing local food production, maintaining, utilizing, and developing good road networks and move towards greener options of transportation. We present our plans, moving from the macro level to the micro level, from large regional entities to the everyday well-being of the residents.
How is life in greener KantaHäme? 10
Our main goal is to go greener in the region to be part of preventing the global warming but also to utilize KantaHäme's large wood reserves that have been indicated in the maps, preserve area’s nature and protect forest’s diversity. Taking care of the area's nature is not only a climate act, but it also guarantees the preservation of the area's identity and closeness to nature in the future for its inhabitants and visitors. For example, there are many national landscapes and parks in the area that represent the Finnish natural landscape.
Our strategy with this is to develop effective land use-plan for the area so that the above-mentioned things could strenghten, and in addition, the area's forests could become active carbon sinks and storages. To go progressively greener in the region, our strategy is also to develop modern, year-round local food production. Vertical farming is an alternative and more carbon-neutral way to generate locally produced food compared to traditional farming and agriculture, which for example consumes a lot of water. We believe that investing in local food production also has an impact not only on climate but also on the well-being of local people, and we believe that the demand for local and locally produced food is high and valued in the future. Vertical farms are located closer to the residential centres of Hämeenlinna, which means that the logistical steps required to transport food do not require nearly as much investment as in typical agriculture, where food may be imported relatively far. Thus, emissions from logistics can be reduced.
How can Kanta-Häme be made progressively green and what would the future look like as a carbon neutral area?
In addition, the greening of local food production is supported by the development of infrastructure and road networks, so that the journeys that need to be taken to transport the cultivated food can be made as ecologically as possible. As we have already mentioned about the actors that affect not only the climate but also the well-being of the inhabitants, in our plan, we also want to take into account the well-being and social sustainability of the inhabitants of the area. Our strategy is that the progressive greening idea extends not only to material matters but also to the social well-being of the citizens.
How will vertical farming as an investment effect to Hämeenlinna's food production and citizens welfare?
POSITIVE SCENARIO: Reverse the effect of global warming
NEUTRAL SCENARIO: Climate change adaptation
NEGATIVE SCENARIO: Facing climate crisis
Climate change has increased rapidly, and climate actions have been taken seriously all over Finland, and Kanta-Häme is strongly involved in the development. Kanta-Häme has a clear identity as a region that offers a more organic and earthy way of living in response to climate change. Kanta-Häme offers a more carbon-neutral way of living by guaranteeing good local services that take the carbon print of the food production into consideration. The rural is being brought to the cities in the region, and the countryside and artificial environment can be combined. Vertical farming has become one of the key elements to contribute to the prevention of global warming. Vertical farming and local food production minimize the costs and emissions of transportations. Also, vertical farming uses 90% of the water compared to traditional agriculture. The water can also be re-used during the process.
Vertical farming enables local active food production throughout the year. It will take place, especially in Hämeenlinna, which is the biggest city in the region. Also, the region will work harder to develop forests and other vegetation to work as carbon sinks. The change will be achieved by encouraging land use factors such as agricultural and forest industries to work for more efficient and carbon-neutral land use. Encouraging the forest industry for good forest maintenance sustains the forests of the region. These vegetation areas, along with the swamps and parks, work as carbon sinks to neutralize carbon emissions. The carbon print of the transportation is also taken into consideration. By 2050 transportation will be completely electric including public transport like busses and trains.
Climate change hasn’t been taken too seriously and the action in the area has been moderate. Carbon footprint of the food production is still being taken into some kind of consideration by favoring and encouraging the local agriculture and farmers. Kanta-Häme will somewhat grow as a part of the growth triangle as it benefits from the vitality and expansion of the Helsinki, Tampere and Turku cities. Good infrastructure and public transportations that passes through the region helps it to become more reachable but people are still using private transportation. Vertical farming is being tested in the Hämeenlinna area, but it’s still considered an alternative option rather than a solution. Old ways of keeping farms, dairies, and greenhouses are still in use in most agricultural establishments.
Land use planning aims for a better and sustainable land use. It has succeeded in making some of the forest to work as effective carbon sinks but the strategies are still lacking and are uneffective. An integrated policy is needed for different sectors in order to strive towards a common goal. Without an action plan adopted by different sectors in the area, no carbon reduction policy is enforced. Some funding has been directed towards greener manufacturing processes and other low-carbon development, but making further investment in public transportation and other already existing systems is higher on the city's priority list.
No actions have been taken against global warming and the KantaHäme region is now facing the consequences. Kanta-Häme is dependent on global policies, actions, and markets, meaning that the region is not self-sufficient. Not only is the climate crisis affecting KantaHäme, but changes in climate influenced by human activity occur globally with devastating results. Factors affecting distribution of resources include, for example, climate, topography, and government policies. Regional vulnerability to climate change focuses on ecosystems, hydrology and water resources, and food production, among others. Changes in potential production translate to farmer incomes and food prices. Climate change has altered the frequency and intensity of forest disturbances; insect outbreaks and invasive species have become a rule rather than an exception for several areas in the region. Intense storms have become more frequent, affecting the safety of residents and increasing harmful impact on facades.
To maintain current functions, infrastructure designed for cooler climates will have to be adjusted to warmer conditions, particularly heat waves, which adds to the climate change adaptation costs. Possible wildfires and floatings... The biodiversity of the area has been affected and for example the living conditions of conifers have been reduced to non-existent and the pests have become a problem. The distribution of tree species has changed in the area, causing negative effects on forestry in the region. Global warming is also causing problems for the population, as well as for food production in the region, for the fields are drying up. Kanta-Häme population will slowly decrease along with other cities with a population under 100 000. People are mostly moving to the three growing cities or deciding to lean towards a different way of living that differs from the big cities' urban and busy lifestyles. Sustainable land use remains a goal for area development, but large investments in new innovations like vertical farming are not easily approved by the decision makers.
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( D’Agostino,2017; Seiner & al. 2012; Vartainainen & al. 2018)
( Derkzen & al. 2017)
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PROGRESSIVE GREENING ENHANCES SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND GREENER URBAN PLANNING:
Green logistics Local food production zero carbon transport
VERTICAL FARMING Food production Vegetarian food Co-work and communality Education
GREEN INFRASTRUCUTURE
PROGRESSIVE GREENING
GREENER URBAN PLANNING
Accessability of natural sites and forests Co-work towards effective land use
ALLOTMENTS ROOF GARDENS
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Rural to the city Green lifestyle Emphazising the nature
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE CARBON SINKS
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Interactive urban networks Urban networks are interconnected. They are shown as one big network (1) and then divided into specific groups (2), (3), (4).
2. Actions 1.
scan! 3. Location
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4. Actors
https://graphcommons.com /graphs/0a3a8890-2be7454f-b372-a3d054fa3bad
Timeline:
Near Future2030 bioenergy and solar energy will be introduced to the area
20302040
vertical farming first being tested
sustainable forest actions infrastructural development starts: take place in the existing better public forests transportation research for the utilization of unused peat land as carbon sinks start
unused peat lands and old forests are reforested to work as carbon sinks
allotments are being started
infrastructural development continues: all the public vehicles are electric and vehicles used in logistical purposes too
20402050 vertical farming is being used aside with traditional food production in Hämeenlinna
vertical farming takes place as a main food production in Hämeenlinna
distribution of products with sustainable transportation ways (drones, electric cars, bicycles, electric buses)
Kanta-Häme region forests are turning to carbon sinks
0- carbon infrastructural developments
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CARBON SINKS - SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
Forest growth stage pie chart show that there are quite a lot of forests that are only in developing stages to become carbon sinks (34%), also upcoming carbon sinks (7%) or low carbon storages (9%) in Finland in relation to, for example, permanent carbon stocks (9%) or significant carbon stocks (5%). Through our actions, we want to develop the share of significant carbon stocks and, on the other hand, to increase just developing carbon sinks into more significant carbon stocks. WHY KANTA-HÄME?
Growing forests sequester carbon in tree trunks, roots and leaves and thus reduce carbon emissions. Active carbon sinks and storages help prevent the climate crisis. In addition, when wood is used, for example, as a building material, the carbon it contains is stored. (Kimmo, Metsä-Group) Our plan is to increase the amount of active carbon sinks in the whole Kanta-Häme region by effective land-use planning and strategies. The purpose of our plan is to take into account the different actors in the forest industry located in Kanta-Häme region. We aim to observe the relationship between the company-owned forests, municipality owned-forests and private forest owners to create a network that has as a more sustainable forest maintenance as one of their main goals.
FOREST OWNERS IN KANTA-HÄME: Metsäkeskus 2021
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Kanta-Häme is a very potential area for developing its forests into more active carbon sinks. First the growth of the forests in Kanta-Häme is the highest of all Finnish provinces and in Kanta-Häme forest growth is even as high as 8.3 cubic meters per hectare. Secondly KantaHäme is the most wooded province of Finland, and it grows on average 173 cubic meters of wood per hectare. (Maaseudun tulevaisuus, 2020) Thirdly the Kanta-Häme region has relatively rich sediment which is indicated in the analysis section and only low amounts of rocky and dry land. For example, there are quite a few peatland deposits and bogs in the area. With the above-mentioned factors, we see potential in Kanta-Hämes soil, forests and nature to be a future example for other Finnish municipalities with good and sustainable forest management which drives the provinces towards carbon-neutrality and climatefriendly actions.
FOREST GROWTH STAGES IN FINLAND:
BIOENERGY, WOOD RECYCLABILITY AND USABILITY:
Metsähallitus
The illustration of the effects of the forest cycle on the climate describes how more use can be made of the Kanta-Häme area's forest resources by utilizing the entire life cycle of forests. In addition to taking into account the different growth stages of forests, the recyclability of materials in the area should be better utilized and the use of wood as a processed product that sequesters carbon, for example in the form of wooden apartment buildings, should be increased. Our goal is to utilize the forest cycle and use wood and other biomass as an energy source. Biomass means recent living organic material and it can be used for transportation, electricity, bio products and heating. Bio energy offers one sustainable solution to help meet the continuous need for energy. It is a form of renewable energy and excess biomass is an natural part of the life cycle of well maintained forests. As previosly mentioned biomass is a multi-functional product. As well as being used as an energy source for electric or bio fuel, it can serve as a renewable alternative for fossil fuels in products such as bio plastic.. (Bioenergia ry, 2021)
Atmosphere
SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE PLANNING: We aim to utilize measures that increase forest growth by for example timely forest management, which means for example timely forestry, planting and felling. By targeting health and breeding fertilization on growing forests from trunk yield we aim to strengthen carbon sequestration. Also improving the capacity to adapt to climate change by promoting forest health and identify potential damage caused by storms and pests and other largescale epidemics and also take care of forest diversity are ways to take sustainable forest management measures. Our goal is also to develop cooperation between forest owners and municipal decisionmakes and government. We want to guarantee good access to information about the conditions for the well-being of forests and their effects on the climate and the municipality locally. We want to raise awareness about preserving forest diversity and the potential threats that may face them. Most importantly, we want to emphasize the identity of KantaHäme as a peaceful and long-rooted forest municipality and encourage to rational and sustainable use of the region's natural resources. With sustainable land use we also increase the accessibility of the nature in the area. For example when natural sites are well taken care of it has a positive effect on citizens while the forests are maintained and the nature increases mental and social well being. (BIOS, 2019)
Carbon remains stored when wood fiber is recycled
Carbon is emitted
Wood products store carbon
Renewable bioenergy is produced from mill and forest residues Healthy forests sotre carbon
Old forests releae their stoder carbon slowly as they decay or rapidly through wildfire
Forest Services, 2021
Reforestation and sustainable forest management practises ensure the carbon cycle continues
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VERTICAL FARMING Reversing climate change is coming hand-to-hand with everyday habits like eating. Reducing food waste, engaging a plant-rich diet, and new agricultural/farming methods can directly help reduce CO2 in our daily lives. Solutions based on land and food are interrelated, which is why those solutions have a crucial role in global warming (Stein 2021). According to UN, %55 of the worlds population is living in urban areas, and this number is expected to be %68 by the year of 2050. Therefore, there should be action taken on current food production practices to meet the needs and fight climate crisis at the same time. Imported Goods in Finland
WHY VERTICAL FARMING ?
Less agricultural land needed compared to traditional agriculture practices . Vertical agriculture requires %10 of the water needed for the regular agriculture practices.
Since it's vertical and indoor, it is more productive and efficient because there are no pesticides, no soil erosion, and chemicals. It also uses a maximum of 10% of the water that used in traditional farming. There is no need for plastic packaging since there are no pesticides, thanks to the protected environment of vertical farming. WHY KANTA-HÄME? Local food production serving the nearby cities and rest of Finland - Less logistics coasts - Less time to make deliveries across country - Less need to export from other countries - Close to 3 big cities; close to main source of consumption
In the chart, it is seen that more than half of the imported goods are vegetables and fruits. With proper practice of vertical farming, the need to import could be lessened. There is no doubt that we need urgent change in land use and food. For this innovative change to occur, it is essential that the change be encouraged and easily accessible. We plan to bring a non-traditional farming method to Kanta-Häme because agriculture is a significant strength of the region. Vertical farming with hydroponics and aquaponics around Kanta-Häme can encourage people to adopt a plant-rich diet because they can easily reach healthy and organic food at reasonable prices, reducing the number of imports, therefore decreasing its effects like food waste and fossil fuel use. 18
To achieve this vision, Hämeenlinna will be the first location for us to apply a new way of agriculture/farming because there is already a significant knowledge about agriculture in the area. We need buildings for vertical farmings, so we are going to refurbish the idle buildings around Hämeenlinna. Furthermore, we need to reach everywhere in Hämeenlinna without using any fossil fuel contributing to climate change. That's why we have three main options to deliver or sell the goods at the beginning: drones, bicycles, or take it away. It is possible to reach refurbished vertical farming by 20 minutes of cycling in Hämeenlinna, and the delivery can happen effortlessly by cycling too. In dense urban areas, a single drone can carry 3 kg, and it is possible to buy things through an app. The reason for that is to make things as accessible as possible to encourage people. The local food production in Hämeenlinna has a multitude of social, ecological, and economic activities and networks, and there will be several actors such as civic communities, residents, public and private organizations (Jokinen & al. 2018). This situation will make Hämeenlinna more independent and resilient while the city adopts more participatory processes and contributes to its local economy's GDP.
20 minutes cycling distances and the number of stores provide help for the areas. (total 22 total vertical farming locations-stores) 1 store 3 stores 14 stores 12 stores 12 stores 6 stores
Quite often vertical farming happens indoors, such as in a warehouse or greenhouse. Some empty buildings in Hämeenlinna and its region will be used for this type of new agricultural establishment. At first, as a prototype, and later on to be introduced to larger regions in KantaHäme. Some common choices of structures to house vertical farming include buildings, tunnels, and abandoned mine shafts. Even modular shipping containers have been used for this type of food production. Choosing sites for vertical farming or similar measures of agriculture will be made with sustainability in mind. To start with, best option is to find empty industrial areas and buildings, or abandoned sites that would have suitable space for these building-based farms and ideally the possibility to cut costs using solar panels instead of electricity. Empty slots and buildings will be put to use instead of letting them get into a bad condition and even pose a safety hazard for unsuspecting day trippers or the environment in case of a fire. For example, in a news article from 2018, several abandoned buildings are described standing along highway 10, as if waiting for someone to set them ablaze. Further communication with the municipality is required to take a next step forward and agree on more specific practices - going through potential municipality owned sites and buildings for vertical farming, and also looking for unused places that still haven't been claimed by the municipality. Sustainable development of land use benefits both the residents and climate. Therefore, allotments and other recreational places can be established to enhance the greenery of the environment.
These maps illustrate the possible vertical farming locations that are refurbished. The colors are shown the 20-minute travel range of vertical farming stores by cycling. People in Hämeenlinna can quickly reach a vertical farming location by cycling or walking to take their groceries or ordering food from the application on their phone and choosing the delivery method. So, the delivery can happen by walking, cycling, or drone without any fossil fuel use.
The fate of abandoned buildings is not always unambiguous, even in cases where the city has already redeemed the lands of the region. The city may simply have no use for an already run-down building or a desolate site. Some abandoned or otherwise empty sites and plots are well-suited for vertical farming and other measures that allow us to develop sustainable actions in the area. 19
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION METHODS
ELECTRIC VECHICLES A steering committee consisting of leaders from governmental and private organizations should be established, along with making the infrastructural changes needed for electric vehicles to become a more common choice of transportation. Needed amount of charging stations should be readily available along major routes - highways, popular destinations, and public transport hubs. High-use vehicles like buses need to come first for the biggest impact on city budgets and air quality. (Planning a City’s Transition to the Electric Vehicle Future, 2020) Electric cars seem particularly well suited to urban driving as trips are typically short, and electric cars can reduce congestion in cities. existing bicycle pathways
By 2050, infrastructure in Kanta-Häme has been developed to a point where all transportation is electric.
BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CYCLING
BIKES AND SCOOTERS
Encouraging people to ride bikes and electric scooters instead of driving fairly short distances will reduce carbon emissions while gasoline-powered vehicles still make the majority of passengervehicle sales. Promoting cycling doesn’t do much if there aren’t good enough incentives to do so. Guiding residents through good planning is a better long-term plan that also highlight residents’ freedom to make their own decisions.
Cycling is a popular mode of transport for many commuters. In addition to work and school trips, scooter rides and visiting nature attractions by bike are popular leisure activities.
By improving connections within the already existing bikeway network in Kanta-Häme, transportation linkages become more efficient. Connecting bikeways to the densest routes of the public transport systems allows more people to have the accessibility to movement along major corridors. Making areas more comfortable and attractive to walk or bike will make commuting and visiting new destinations by bike a more attractive option.
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Our aim is to improve connections within the already existing bicycle path network in Kanta-Häme and encourage people to ride bikes instead of driving fairly short distances.
New routes are first introduced to areas that have inconsistent cycle networks. Bikeways on the outskirts of Hämeenlinna, for example, can be seen dividing until there’s a dead end. In addition to creating more consistent routes, paths to allotments and nature attractions are created. This way recreational places are more accessible to cyclists.
Cycle lanes will lead from towns and cities to another and be in the immediate vicinity of the most used routes. Separating pedestrians and cyclists from each other is important in order to reduce accidents caused by reckless people riding electric scooters and bicycles. Cycle lanes are especially aimed at commuters who want to move between places quickly and have the least amount of unnecessary slow-downs.
Some of the cycle lanes are part of green networks in urban areas of Kanta-Häme. Especially lanes that pass through nature attractions will have a more distinguished green look to them. These green routes will have green noise barriers next to them when passing by highways and green fences separating them from pedestrian streets and motorways. Roof gardens can be seen along the green routes close to newly established allotments in Hämeenlinna. Green routes are a solution to maintaining biodiversity of the environment while increasing bike traffic and adding public health and well-being opportunities. Green routes connect cyclists to nature, recreation and active living, and offer a place for everyone regardless of their cycling skills. Less confident or recreational cyclists may feel more comfortable cycling along green routes. (Urban Green Up. Cycle and Pedestrian Green Route.)
Green routes passing through nature attractions and other recreational areas
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SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY The meaning of social sustainability is to guarantee equal chances and basic need for all and the idea is to have these standards of living to pass on from one generation to other in society. The goal of our government is to increase social sustainability in Finland by for example preventing loneliness, and exclusion of individuals, improving well-being and social functioning of the health and living environment of the population. In this era of climate change and other environmental crises, uncertainty about the future may get the best of our minds. Changing or destroying natural environments as well as pressures to reform working life and lifestyles require challenge as most changes do. Improving society's resilience to crises is one of the tasks of ecological reconstruction. This resilience can be increased by reasonable self-sufficiency, the ability to meet basic needs with few resources, and close social relationships. (KeKe, 2021) In a study made by BIOS it was discovered that there are many relations between a healthier and more ecological lifestyle like for example less pollution, everyday exercise and vegetarian diet. Also being in contact with nature and living the rural lifestyle has a positive effect on our overall immune system. By increasing peoples heath one can prevent the stress directed to our health services and it will play a major role in our public health. (BIOS, 2019) AREAL PLAN: Some concrete way in the development of social sustainability is the emphasis on the uniqueness and rich nature of Kanta-Häme in the region by bringing the rural to the cities. This means adding various rentable small-scale farming plots and allotment gardens to the Hämeenlinna area. We believe that allotment gardens contribute to the growth of the general atmosphere and mental wellbeing and experience of community and activate the inhabitants of the area. Small-scale farming plots are way to include citizens in a light and experimental way to local food production as well as to the root of nature. Allotments create a more natural atmosphere that the whole Kanta-Häme region embraces to balance all the urban and build environment and. In future greener Kanta-Häme allotments will be part of social sustainability and reconstruction and part take to the social well-being of the citizens. Allotments will be offered as an opportunity to be be closer to the nature and to benefit one's social and physical health rather than as an actual food production option. With these actions we also want increase information about food production and vegetarian diet as well as bringing people back to their roots. 22
ALLOTMENT THEMATIC MAP: This map shows where the current existing allotments are located.
FUTURE ALLOTMENT THEMATIC MAP This thematic map shows where the future allotments and roof top gardens could be located in Hämeenlinna centrum area. The close ups are of Verkatehdas public roof garden and one the allotments located in the northern part of the centre near Paroinen ja Puistonmäki neighbourhoods. Hämeenlinna 1:100 = Allotments and roof gardens = Current public transportation route = Potential area for allotments and roof gardens
ALLOTMENTS AND ROOF GARDENS - RURAL TO THE CITIES The allotments and roof gardens are focused in Kanta-Häme area and they are placed according to the investigation that has been made of population intenstity in different parts of the city. We found that the city centre and the population intensity spreads in three different directions creating different sections to focus on. When bringing rural to the cities the focus will being on the centre area and the and the most crowded living areas around it. The allotments will be located near to the citizens, the will be easily accessible and part of the general atmosphere of greener Hämeenlinna. The idea is that they are easily accessible with public transportation or bicycle. There were already a few allotments near to the city centre, but in order to intensify the greener life style, its possibilities and the scenery it can offer, there will be way more options to choose on and some of the allotments will located on top of the buildings and work as roof gardens. In the marked focus regions the change will be the most prominent and the allotments will become part of the overall atmosphere of the areas benefiting the citizens social well-being. The most perceptible of the allotments will be the one located on top Verkatehdas in the city centre. Verkatehdas being the centre of culture will be the number one indentifier of the allotment and food porduction culture of greener Hämeenlinna offering healthty hobbies to the citizens as well as fresh local food and view of the greenery. Other similar roof top gardens will be located to the city centre area, some public and some used by the residents of the housing. Most of the allotments in the neighborhoods will be public and rentable as well as the roof top garden located on top of Verkatehdas. They are meant to provide a hobby and an opportunity to stay in touch with the rural while living the urban live in a city.
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Image sources: https://www.canva.com
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