Shaping City-Regions EXP EDITION 2 Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn May 14-25, 2012
TALLINN | BRUSSELS | TILBURG | MANCHESTER | COTTBUS | KASSEL | HELSINKI
Estonian Academy of Arts 2012 Chair of Urban Studies Contact: Panu Lehtovuori | panu.lehtovuori@artun.ee Anu Piirsild | anu.piisild@artun.ee In Collaboration with members of academic staff and students from Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, University of Applied Siences Lausitz, University of Tillburg, Vrije University Brussels, Manchester Metropolitain University, University Kassel
CONTENT Part 0 Part I Part II Part III
Introduction Admiralty Bassin - focal point of Tallinn Harbour Cultural Kilometre - emerging sea side area North of harbour Southern Extension of Pohjavail Highway - a public conflict with abundant local values
Shaping City Regions - Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn Tallinn has grown over its municipal boundary already a while ago. currently, a regional process valorising the suburban municipalities (the ‘Golden Ring’ around Tallinn) is complemented by the emerging international connectivity towards Helsinki (Talsinki twin city). This “enlargement” of city space, of both Helsinki and Tallinn, brings as well unsolved situations in the urban fabric of the single cities back to their agenda. The most obvious and at the same time most urgent question for Tallinn is in this respect: How to deal with the today widely abundant seaside? Whereas the sea stands in general as methophor of the other, as a setting to overcome distances and harbours in particular as places of interaction and discovery of commons, Tallinn in opposite still suffers from the history of its harbour as a military basis. The sea was therin not the connection, but the border and boundary. Based on the first Edition of the Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn in 2011 and on the topic of the Urban and Landscape Days 2012 the summer school tries to address these issues in developing three semi-realistic projects along central parts of Tallinn’s seaside.
Introduction into the task - Brief for Summer School Participants We will continue working on the international dynamics of the emerging twin-city region of Helsinki and Tallinn. Some key findings last year were that the twin city already exists, independent of large infrastructure decisions, such as the tunnel, and that many of the economic, social and cultural attractions and reasons of existence of the twin city are based on the differences between Helsinki and Tallinn not their similarity. This year, we aim to move from general mapping of the twin city thematic to a concrete project on the Tallinn seaside. We will develop and concretize a new planning and process tool, CONTOUR, which was originally proposed by Panu Lehtovuori and Damiano Cerrone in the TAB competition for Tallinn seaside in 2011. Main idea of the tool is to identify an important planning question in neighbourhood scale and create a non-profit public-private company where landowners and other stakeholders can negotiate their rights and responsibilities. The Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) procedure, combined with advanced computing of the buildings rights, will be used to solve the economic balancing of owners’ interests. Qualitative spatial and programmatic ideas should be grafted in the process in the public and non-owning stakeholder interest. While this set of ideas is the starting point, the Summer School participants are asked to develop a semi-realistic project on a site in Tallinn harbour and seaside, including the main railway station that is also close to the sea. Tentatively, we suggest three groups and study areas, each focussing on one ‘public icon’, or potential public space.
1. Admiralty Basin – focal point of Tallinn harbour 2. Cultural Kilometre – emerging seaside area North of harbour 3. Southern extension of Pohjavail highway – a public conflict with abundant local values
We suggest to organise the work with the following “layers”:
Data layer (material given to students) -Tallinn GIS base map -Tartu University data about non-Estonians’ use of space in Tallinn, in GIS format -Basic info layers, such as public transportation, parking places, important services, heritage protected buildings, parks, general land use. -Space syntax axial mapping
Experiential layer - fieldwork (material to be produced by the students) -Given the data, students are asked to do fieldwork, mapping experiential dimensions: flows, monuments (Aldo Rossi), public space, actors, lifestyle, nightlife, informal parking, tourists’ influence, etc. The exact list of dimensions will be brain stormed during the Summer School. -The ai is to identify strong themes, spaces or processes that might work as the driver of a long-term public-private initia tive, a CONTOUR.
Infographic layer - telling the story of your Project (presentation and documentation) -Data and findings should be synthetized in an interesting way to a Project: how to tell about fresh findings, about partly invisible or emerging urban reality, where rhythms and many user groups play a big role -importance of using GIS in order to make the work qualitative/quantitative, durable and base for further research -material should be uploaded in ArcGis platform + presented in text and graphics in the final publication
Discussion - potential for a new planning tool
Erasmus IP Summer School 2012 Tallinn, Estonia May 14 – 25, 2012
Group I : Admiralty Basin Benjamin Bialon Marius HĂźbsch Florian Ibold Rodrigo Martinez Laura May Julie Metzdorff Isabel Neumann Manuel Ramos Tina Steiger
Talinski :: Connecting People The area of Admiralty Basin is one of the most important sites for redevelopment of the Tallinn inner city area, as it opens up the opportunity for the city to connect with the sea, connecting visitors to locals, and Tallinn to Helsinki. Within the realm of a 10-day workshop, a group of international students from city planning, architecture, urban and cultural studies disciplines have analyzed and proposed improvements and ideas for the site. Analysis The first spatial analysis included mapping flows of traffic, the types and quality of open spaces and barriers within the area. Informal pathways across the temporarily used Tivoli space were mapped and ranked in a hierarchy of use. We found that most people used the space to connect from the shopping area in the harbor to the inner city. Furthermore a lighting analysis was conducted, in order to assess the quality and sense of safety of the open spaces. Barriers in the form of busy streets, fences and walls were also mapped in order to get an idea of how more coherent pedestrian flows from the water to the city center could be fostered. Overall we saw the Admiralty Basin as being disconnected from the city center by the busy 4-lane car street and tram-lines. The primary function of the Admiralty Basin appears to cater to visitors arriving from the ferry terminals, (ie alcohol shops, restaurants, supermarkets). In addition to the ferry terminals, much of the area is taken up by parking lots and derelict wasteland. There is a lacking sense of connectivity within the Admiralty Basin, and lacking connectivity to the city center. The general aim of our project is therefore take away and enhance the connectivity and flows of people within the Admiralty Basin, and considering wastelands as a potential, and opportunity for temporary uses for locals and visitors alike. With this project we aim to connect visitors to locals, the city to the sea, and Tallinn to Helsinki. Proposal Our proposal is to foster this connection by soft measures such as temporary urban interventions, and hard measures such as changing land uses and the built environment.
Green Slope and Market Hall On site of the vacant square facing the Marina, which has temporarily been used as a Tivoli site we propose the creation of an elevated green slope, market stalls and the new city hall. Here wide bridges across the busy traffic lanes will create a friendly pedestrian connection to the old city, while providing users with a view of Tallinn’s medieval skyline. A vegetable and flower market under the slope would attract locals to use the space, provide vending outlets for local vegetable growers and continue the tradition of market space that has already emerged there. With the new city hall, the space could become a new central square for the city, facing the marina and opening the city to the sea. Talinski Hall Historically, the Linnahall was the only connection that the people of Tallinn had to the sea, today we propose a re-use of the building to nurture a transnational identity, connecting Tallinn and Helsinki, creating Talinski. The vast rooftop could be used for temporary activities in shipping containers, which could be shipped between Helsinki and Tallinn. Ideas for this include containers equipped with tools for urban interventions, which could be used by the people of Helsinki and Talinn. Also, along the Talinski Hall we propose a dedicated graffiti wall, since the space has been identified as a popular meeting spot for locals, youth, and alternative tourists. Lina Vesi Community Center B.B.C.C The Lina Vesi community center which we have called the B.B.C.C (Blue Building Community Center) housed inside an empty building owned by Esti Energy, with ideal view onto the city center would be the meeting and information point for private actors and local inhabitants. Here citizens are given the tools to realize their own temporary projects, take part in urban planning games and inform themselves about planning proposals. By inviting schools, using resources from art and architecture universities and network from the nearby Kultuuri Katel we hope that the B.B.C.C will open a space for participative urban planning. Temporary Activities in Talinksi Park In the more temperate summer months we propose a park next to the Linnahall for for urban camping and temporary beach bars, where shipping containers can be sued to rent out beach games and equipment. We consider proposing a climbing wall along the
Talinski Hall as is low cost and interactive urban activity, which can make use of the sea view without disturbing the protected building structure. Since there are only small indoor climbing walls throughout Tallinn, such a new activity in proximity to the city center gives the existing building a new function to be used by both locals and visitors. Throughout the cold winter months, we propose temporary activities and uses such as urban ice climbing, winter market, igloo bars, ice sculptures, sledding on the new hill, and a recreational extension of the cultural mile for leisure.
Project Diary Group I :: Admiral Basin Tallinn : Connecting People Day 1: 16. May 2012 After taking a look at the areal maps of the Admiral Basin and a first brain-storming session, we took two approaches to analyzing the area. A meta mapping, analyzing the area from a birds eye perspective in regional and metropolitan context, and another perspective analyzing the area from the ground to make experiential observations. Maps of the admiral basin in the metropolitan context were drawn, presenting the space as it is connected to other green belts, regional connections and the city center. While first observations included mapping the public spaces, wastelands, benches and parking lots. Another part of the group mapped edges, informal pathways and discovered an abandoned building which would provide an ideal location for a community center. The third group observed flows of movement, flows of cars as well as flows of pedestrians. Day 2 : 18 May 2012 Discussions about how to approach the area and the division of tasks was held within the group. The general conclusions were that there is a need to connect the city the sea. Different points of view were voiced, some focusing on cultural regeneration through the use of temporary projects and community participation. While others thought on the level of masterplans and spatial
connectivity. A third perspective was that of built environment and building use. Conceptual maps were sketched and filled in. The day’s work and discussions demonstrated the challenge of collaborating with students of transdisciplinary backgrounds in such a large group. Day 3: 19 May 2012 By creating a timeline for future uses of the admiral basin we developed a framework for approaching the site. Creating a timeline and a plan for a step-by step process towards 2030. Initially activating the admiral basin through temporary uses, therefore creating an identity and “place-making� the space for locals. The second step is rehabilitation of open space and connecting them to the old city center, as well as strengthening flows of activity within. This would lead to the final step of relocating the terminals A and B in order to make room to create leisure open spaces, housing and commercial activities. Day 4 : 21 May 2012 Further fieldwork was conducted in the form of taking additional photographs of the site, making observations and mapping the actors. This gave us an additional spatial feeling and activity of the marina area and wasteland to the right of Linnahall. The idea for creating an urban camping site and urban gardening was brought up for the green space adjoining the Linnhall. Our branding concept of transforming Linnahall into Talinski Hall, emphasizing the symbolic connection of Tallinn to Helsinki was solidified. Temporary activities taking place on the Talinski Hall could emphasize their connection through design, art, universities. Day 5 : 22 May 2012 Following feedback and group discussion, we decided to work on three focal points in the area, the community center (enabling community participation) the Marina Open Space and Linnahall. We began consolidating our ideas within a powerpoint presentation, maps of the collected data were drawn and visualizations for the use of Linnahall and the open space created. Day 6 : 23 May 2012
The outline and layout for the presentation was continued, as the cultural uses and ideas from other cities for temporary projects were researched. The visualisations and concept for the open space were solidified, to include a sloped open space, a connecting bridge to the city center and stands for vegetable market. Analysis and concept maps depicting urban furniture, traffic, open spaces, informal pathways and lighting were digitalized. One of the main discussion points was what target group we were aiming to reach with this project, and came to the conclusion that it was important to make the Admiral Basin more appealing to be used by local, in order to strengthen the connection with visitors and towards a Talinksi identity. Day 7 : 24 May 2012 Collected materials were finalized and concepts shared among group members. The background of Linnahall and its possible uses and visualizations of temporary projects were made. Relevant digitalized mapping and 3-D visualizations were also developed, combining the strengths and abilities of those with planning backgrounds and those coming from cultural studies.
ADMIRALTY BASIN 25路05路2012
ADMIRALTY BASIN
ADMIRALTY BASIN
Content 1. Analyzis of the area 2. Aim of the project 3. Small scale & temporary projects 4. Permanent projects
ADMIRALTY BASIN
ADMIRALTY BASIN Analyze
Functions
ADMIRALTY BASIN Analyze
Traffic
ADMIRALTY BASIN Analyze
Open Space Typologies
ADMIRALTY BASIN Analyze
Pathways
ADMIRALTY BASIN Analyze
Pathways – Barriers
ADMIRALTY BASIN Analyze
Furniture, Lights, Vegetation
ADMIRALTY BASIN Conclusion Analyzis
Disconnected! Negative • lack of quality in open space • lack of connection to surrounding areas • interior barriers; missing hierarchy • monostructural functions Positive • big quantity of open space • people are using the area • potential functions and well situated between city and water
ADMIRALTY BASIN General Aim
Connecting Who? • Water to City • Locals to Visitors • Tallinn to Helsinki How? • Soft Measures - interventions in open space - informal uses and participation • Hard Measures - Reuse Linnahall - Townhall - Green pedestrian bridges
ADMIRALTY BASIN Soft Concept
Delete Barriers
ADMIRALTY BASIN Soft Concept
Reuse existing ways and create entrance
ADMIRALTY BASIN Soft Concept
Create new ways and connections to water
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Use
Soft Implementation
Soft Implementation
Blue Building – Community Center • Planning - Information - Urban Planning Game - Meeting Point for Harbor Actors - Local inhabitants, schools, universities, Kultuurikatel and local NGOs • Temporary Uses - Suggest ideas - Crowd funding - Shipping Containers Visit: www.bb-cc.ee View from Blue
Implementation
Urban Games – Re-Imagining the City • PlaytheCity (NL) City planning by participation
View from Blue
Implementation
Urban Games – Re-Imagining the City • PlaytheCity (NL) City planning by participation
View from Blue
Process
Actors Private
Users
Public
Shipowners
Visitors
City-Goverment
Rotermanni
Citizens
Helsinki
Harbour Actors
Creatives
Eesti Energy
Process
Ideas / Benefits Private
Users
Public
Economical Profit
New Activities
Better Image
More Visitors
Identity Open Space Quality
Users
Image
Process
DEVELOP THE OLD HARBOUR
Image
CE A P NS Y E P O LIT A U Q
Users
ENLIVEN THE PLACE
(INT NAT ER) ATT IONAL EN T ION
Small scale improvements
Talinski Park and Basin • Actual Situation
Small scale improvements
Clean Up Area
View from Blue
Small scale improvements
Talinski Park and Basin – Urban Furniture • Benches • Improve light system • Waste bins • Elevated walking way
Cultural Container Spaces
Soft Implementation
Connecting people by containers •  Maintaining Harbor Identity
Soft Implementation
Connecting people by containers • Containers for rent of books and playing material • Containers for temporary bars • …
Soft Implementation
Temporary Uses at Talinski Hall • Mobile container shipped between Tallinn and Helsinki • Means of fostering Cross Boarder Identity & Exchange • Containing : Tools for urban interventions • Art University exchange of Exhibitions • Example : Bureau Detours, Workshop Container shipped between Copenhagen/ Oslo/Rotterdam Foto Source: Bureau
Activities – Summer Season
TALLINN SUMMER SEASON
Activities – Summer Season
Talinski Hall – Urban Climbing Wall
Activities – Summer Season
Talinski Park – Urban Camping
Activities – Summer Season
Talinski Park – Urban Temporary Beach
Activities – Winter Season
TALLINN WINTER SEASON
Activities – Winter Season
Talinski Park – Ice Climbing
Activities – Winter Season
Talinski Park – Ice Skating
Activities – Winter Season
Talinski Park – Ice Sculptures
Activities – Winter Season
Talinski Park – Ice Fishing
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
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ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
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ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
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ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
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ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
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ADMIRALTY BASIN
ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
Design Evolution
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ADMIRALTY BASIN Concept
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Concept
Design Evolution
Erasmus IP Summer School 2012 Tallinn, Estonia May 14 – 25, 2012
Group II : Cultural Kilometre Charlie Ernesto Ioanna Karoline Maria Oskar Simona Sophia Veronika
From Cultureless to Cultureness Having gathered several empirical observations in the Cultural Kilometre from the members of our team, we came to realise that the definition of culture in the area was abstract and non-defined. In the beginning of the path the EKKM and Kultuurikartel can be seen as functional and useful institutes that are well linked to the wider area. On the other hand, the rest of the path is not well-organised, even if it is used for different types of neighbourhood activities. Walking the dog and the baby, jogging, cycling, strolling and relaxing alongside the path and on the seashore are the most common ones. After interviewing a number of residents in the area, we figured out that the Cultural Kilometre is appreciated and seen as an important meeting point, as well as a leisure spot for the residents of the surrounding area. At the same time, the creation of a more functional and organised environment was recommended for boosting the liveliness of the kilometre and bringing people together. In addition, no big changes would be needed, according to the interviewees, since small interventions could revitalise the existing qualities of the area. Propositions for a cat-eye corridor for the night cyclists, lighting, more benches, a kiosk/mini-market, a place for pets or leisure spot (a football field) placed in the wasteland, together with playgrounds were important to the plan and the general proposal we developed further on. We could recognise that people enjoy the area as it is and some small changes that could keep its community and neighbourhood character could be made, in the sense of soft interventions which would refresh the qualities of it. For our first scenario, no big buildings or too commercial development would be welcomed and the highway idea would be destructive to the whole atmosphere. Based on the above ideas we developed three different scenarios focusing on three different key areas: the seafront and small harbour, the Patarei prison and particular industrial buildings in the end of the path. Our first ideas refer to a soft intervention of the area, with no big pressure and consequently low budget and possibility to be implemented as quickly as possible. We thought about bringing people together with the residents of the Kalamaja district for collecting the litter on the seaside in order to make it more attractive and usable. At the same time, a part of the prison can be easily transformed into a paintball field since the landscape would be beneficial for this type of activity. In addition to this, we decided that many interest groups should come together and make up their minds about the different uses of the prison aiming at a participatory process of bringing people together for deciding for their own sights and their functions. The wastelands alongside the path could be used for urban gardening or for locating a football field. Small interventions such as the placement of benches and lighting will aim in transforming the Cultural Kilometre in a more accessible and interconnected pathway, making it more usable. Different types of food, vegetable or flea markets could be located outdoors - when the weather permits it - or indoors, in some of the industrial buildings in the end of the corridor, giving the area a
new potential. Further solutions for fenced parks for pets, as well as dog waste bags baskets could be part of this scenario as well. Our second scenario refers to high pressure and large scale development planning. We considered the seaside spot as a possibility for commercial development, bars, restaurants and shops, together with the existence of new building environment of blocks that could be used as housing or office buildings. Our second key area, the prison, could be developed as a hostel/ hotel and restaurant in order to attract other types of residents and visitors. Moreover, our recommendations for the industrial buildings would be to be used as studios, ateliers or exhibition halls for paintings and sculptures. Other types of activities like dancing school or music hall could be also located there. All in all, the main proposal of our project is to try to develop a concentrated process, with the developers putting ideas in practice together. The concepts which already exist in the detailed plan should focus on a consistency of the buildings and of the already existing elements. The developers won’t necessary collaborate with the community, but they will take into account that the seashore should be kept because the opening of the waterfront to all kinds of public is a necessity, together with the outline of the connections to Kalamaja district and the city centre. Moreover, the project aims at defining “cultureness� by underlining the following hotspots: the beach and the bay, the prison, the Maritime Museum and the old industrial buildings. Our final goal is the rejuvenation of the cultural kilometre by hosting new types of activities, culture and leisure, as well as functional spots for different interest groups whilst giving the possibility for further development in the area.
from cultureless to cultureness
Tallinn 2012
Charlie_Ernesto_Ioanna_Karoline_Maria_Oskar_Simona_Sophia_Veronika
_What we have thought? _first impressions _What is culture to us? _analysis _interviews _scenarios _What do the people want? _What is planned? _What to do now? _concept _visions (images)
structure
What we have thought?
what we have thought
impressions
first impressions
What is culture to us?
what is culture to us?
analysis
analysis_accessibility
analysis_existing uses
analysis_green
analysis_building conditions
analysis_landuse
analysis_ownership
analysis_path accessibility
analysis_barriers weaknesses
analysis_views
analysis_potentials
small changes _no new buildings, esp. museums _need for: benches cat-eyes food shops [kiosk/mini-market], cheap venues [bar(s)] flea market gym/fitness football pitch/BMX park baby care dog facilities [pet waste bags] _cleaned beach + better maintained green spaces _access to seashore!!! _no highway interviews
What do the people want?
Community based Small scaled Temporary Flexible Cheap quick
What do the people want?
field for dog-walking
What do the people want?
gardening
What do the people want?
paintball and climbing
What do the people want?
What is planned?
noblessner_hvidt architects
What is planned?
highway
What is planned?
What is planned?
What to do now?
city
users
developers
our proposal our proposal
analysis_current situation
our proposal_shoreline concept
Keep the existing qualities Compromise between planning for the people/planning for the developer Concentrated density Qualified Open spaces our proposal_concept
museum market
prison park beach
greenery Kultuurikatel
EKKM
our proposal_hotspots
bathing ship
our proposal_visions
groups of interest
our proposal_visions
dancing school
our proposal_visions
food market
our proposal_visions
Keep the existing qualities Compromise between planning for the people/planning for the developer Concentrated density Qualified Open spaces our proposal_concept
our proposal_concept
developers proposal
our proposal
Develop Kalamaja to the path/seashore
our proposal_concept
our proposal_new buildings
our proposal_open space
Develop Kalamaja to the path/seashore
our proposal_concept
our proposal_waterline
culture to our proposal
timeline_beach and harbour
timeline_industrial buildings
timeline_patarei prison
1CULTURENESS - HOTSPOTS
3CONNECTIONS Seaside
2CONCENTRATE DEVELOPMENT - PROCESS
Kalamaja
Main Station – Subculture area
4WATERFRONT - OPENING
conclusion
Erasmus IP Summer School 2012 Tallinn, Estonia May 14 – 25, 2012
Group III : Pohjavail Highway Ami Crinnion Mattias De Backer Tine Marguillier Nele Moor Kerstin Mutschke Petra Počanid JesúsRamírezFernández Jacob Waltman Gudrun Zemitzsch
The Green Highway: reflection on the process The process First we decided to have a ‘situationist’ walk in the area, to try to understand it without any predetermined theories or ideas. After this we reflected on the observations and found a few distinct ‘districts’ in there: the ‘jungle’, the ‘drug addict district’, the park, the shoreline, and a few landmarks like the university, a protected building, the Russalka monument and the church. These were to be our focus areas. We decided the main problems of the neighbourhood were its restrictedness, close-offness and fragmentation. To map this further we decided to analyse through mapping of light, noise, walls and formal and informal paths. The data we collected concurred with our initial feeling. Fences and walls close off large strips of the area, but at the same time informal paths, signs of appropriation of passers-by and locals showed the potential, if we would think in terms of a bottom-up project. The ensuing brainstorm on a project made us realise we should start off with limited ambition, with the creation and involvement of the local community, focusing more on locals and nearby areas, pedestrians and cyclists, than on tourists or car-users. Diagnosis & treatment Two main conclusions: (1) restrictedness, (2) fragmentation, showed two possible treatments: (1) appropriation of the fragmented land (and of the shoreline) and opening up for view, (2) community-building. In this we can use the few strengths the area has: (1) informal paths and connectivity between the centre and the East, (2) leisure opportunities and scenery in the location, as a linking area between the shore, the park and the city centre. Difficulties with the site Few actors are present (university, church, child centre) and it is very fragmented in its layout. The limited planning and mobility view of the city government does not help, neither does their lack of funding. The city’s analysis in terms of mobility is definitely right. It is trapped in a cluster of very busy roads. The mobility node of the ferry terminal provides a fresh stream of motorized vehicles more or less every hour. The Narva Maantee road is a six-lane urban highway that is totally clogged during peak hours. The city’s proposal to construct a new highway basically through the Russalka area would be one solution. Yet, we know that fundamentally, more concrete and more roads will only replace the problems in space in time. SWOT of the area Strengths: shoreline, scenery, calm (apart from parts adjacent to Tuukri and Narva Mnt roads),
Weaknesses: traffic, walls & fences, harbour, lack of community, few actors, dirty soils and contaminated water, Opportunities: parts of our projectland is owned by the city, location for connectivity Threats: mobility views of the city government, budget, too little people for community-building, Methodology Our methods, which were, the mapping of noise, light, walls, paths. Why? Our first impressions pointed at a largely absent government and planning involvement. Space had a strange feeling of non-identity, improvised sprawl, privatised and semi-privatised land, with dark and unsafe areas taken over by deviants. At the same time it is squeezed between a few very busy mobility nodes (harbour, Narva Mnt, the cluster of roads South of the Admirality basin). Mapping of light, noise, walls and paths in this context made sense and actually this analysis even enforced our initial impressions. At the same time the language barrier and the sprawled pattern of inhabitants made us realise a round of interviews would not make us much wiser. Yet, it points at the absence of a community, something we thought we needed to address first. Proposing a project that focused on the creation and involvement of the local community. Maps of the tourist cell phone traffic of Tallinn show that our area is largely ignored by tourists. This enforces the idea of focusing on the locals first. Result What is the result? Two priorities: open up the area and involve the community. We decided to propose a green road instead of a concrete one, which pays respect to the informal paths and appropriated areas in the neighbourhood, as a counterweight for the walls and fences. Our second concern is to create and involve a community. This means all kinds of small-scale and bigger-scale projects that invite locals to think and propose. Yet, we know that everything stands or falls with the immediate success of physical interventions. First stages of people’s participation should result in palpable changes. Feedback and information is crucial for participation programmes. SWOT of our project Strengths: physical interventions and participation of the community happen at the same time using local resources & potential realistic goals
Weaknesses: limited use of the few local actors limited focus on the sea lack of consideration of broader context not linked to an existing event or programme Opportunities: space for others mobility plans of the city revalorizing the neighbourhood new landmark in Tallinn relationships and networks formed as a result of collaboration Threats: only passers-by low density lack of focus on cold climate lack of interest of inhabitants ambiguous attitude towards the collective past Long term proposals Densifying the area (e.g. ‘new urbanist’ development) More mixed use Linking to the cultural kilometer Pedestrianising Feedback during the critique Use church as a major actor, connect with the university and perhaps a new use for the protected building. This triangle could develop into the core for next plans. A coalition of actors could be the driving force behind revelopment of the areas we named ‘jungle’ or ‘DAD’ and behind initiatives for community-participation. Re-use of the central row of old industrial buildings could then be a next step.
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn
May 14 - 25, 2012 Ami Crinnion Mattias De Backer Tine Marguillier Nele Moor Kerstin Mutschke Petra Počanid Jesús Ramírez Fernández Jacob Waltman Gudrun Zemitzsch
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Introducing the Area
The Cultural km The Harbour
Kadrioru Park City Center
City Center
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Analysis of the Area / Elements
The Shoreline
The Harbour
The Park NPB
NPB
The Jungle
DAD
Residential Area The Church NPB
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Analysis of the Area / Lightening
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Analysis of the Area / Walls No visibility Partial visibility Full visibility
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Analysis of the Area / Paths Formal paths Low traffic density Middle traffic density High traffic density
Informal paths
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / SWOT Analysis of area STRENGHTS - shoreline - scenery/green space - calm & quiet (partly)
OPPORTUNITIES - public ownership - private ownership - location for connectivity
WEAKNESSES - traffic - walls & fences - harbour - lack of community (-feeling) - few actors present - dirty soils & contaminated water
THREATS - mobility & planning of the city - budget - low density - private ownership
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest
Shoreline Concrete fairground
DAD
Jungle
NPB Church
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
The Green Highway
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / The Jungle
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / The Jungle possibilities WHAT - Talgud (community clean up + event) - Outdoor sports (running path + climbing + boulder + play park) HOW - re-use of walls (removal of some) - sports equipment OUTCOME - igniting/strengthening the community - stimulating physical activity - revalorizing the space
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / NPB
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / NPB Possibilities WHAT - community centre (with room for bar, evening classes, exhibition space,‌) HOW - (outside) renovation building - (inside) restoring infrastructure (electricity,‌) OUTCOME - physical indoor space for socio-culturaleducational purpose - alternative landmark - part of an alternative heritage tour/guided walk
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / DAD
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / DAD possibilities WHAT - rehabilitation area HOW - re-use existing shacks - implementing more light - key social workers - landscaping interventions OUTCOME - provide support for marginalized groups who use the area - create a safer, rejuvenated environment
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / Concrete fairground
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / Concrete fairground possibilities WHAT - sports and leisure area HOW - marking field with paint for football/basketball - putting containers in the area for equipment - obstacles for BMX/skaters - winter ice rink OUTCOME - re-use of abandoned space for recreational sports
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / Shoreline
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / Shoreline possibilities WHAT - promenade HOW - public seating - light - pedestrian path OUTCOME - connect to the sea, over and through the boulders and next to the beach -attraction of commercial activity - new leisure centre for residents, tourists, local actors
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / General possibilities PATHS - formalizing informal paths WALLS - paint them - decorate the fences with art - make holes for looking through - use them for climbing/as benches - making a neighbourhood event out of these activities
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Community Engagement
MOTIVATIONS - Different levels of involvement - Enhance local visibility - Support collective use - Promote availability - Favour a face to face relationship - Raise awareness on collectivity - Support expressions of personal skills
HOW - Developing a Crowdsourcing platform for solving urban problems - Fast realisation - Careful feedback - Public rehearsal rooms/ateliers - Map residents's skills - Budget for neighbourhood activities - University as a possible collaborative partner - Student volunteering projects
Erasmus IP Summer School in Tallinn / May 14 - 25, 2012
Areas of interest / SWOT Analysis of the project STRENGHTS
WEAKNESSES
- parallel physical interventions and participation of the community - using local resources - realistic goals - using the potential of the area
- limited use of the few local actors - limited focus on the sea - lack of consideration of broader context - not linked to an existing event or programme
OPPORTUNITIES - space for others - mobility plans of the city revalorizing the neighbourhood - new landmark in Tallinn - relationships and networks formed as a result of collaboration
THREATS - only passers-by - low density - lack of focus on cold climate - lack of interest of inhabitants - ambiguous attitude towards the collective past
Thanks to all involved (up-comming) professionals for their participation in the Erasmus IP Summer School 2012. Special thanks to the Chair of Urban Studies at Estonian Academy of Arts and to Anu Piirsild for the organsiation of the summer school.