Challenging competition brought fresh ideas for developing the Helsinki region
The jury for the Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 ideas contest felt that the competition assignment proved challenging for the participants, and that the best entries brought innovative and fresh ideas for developing the Helsinki region. The goal was to find new and open-minded residential, land use, and transport solutions for developing the region.
The population of the Helsinki region will grow from 1,3 million to 2 million within the next 50 years. The amount of required new building is so great that it enables developing the region's overall structure in a way which strengthens the region's position and competitiveness as one of the Baltic Sea region's leading cultural and technological centers and an appealing residential and business location.
The competition was organized by 14 towns and municipalities of the Helsinki region: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kerava, Tuusula, Järvenpää, Nurmijärvi, Mäntsälä, Pornainen, Hyvinkää, Kirkkonummi, Vihti and Sipoo, together with the Ministry of the Environment.
The competition was an open, international planning competition. Even by international standards, it was exceptionally sizeable in terms of set goals, the size of the planning area, and the prize money. The first prize was 160,000 euros and altogether a sum of 500,000 euros was awarded in prizes. There were 86 accepted entries.
The jury's chair was Mayor for City Planning and Real Estate Pekka Korpinen. Professional judges named by the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA were professor Helka-Liisa Hentilä and professor Trevor Harris. Professor Peter Ache functioned as the jury's foreign member.
'Emerald' won Greater Helsinki Vision ideas competition
The entries raised to the prize category are of two kinds: those, which succeed in comprehensively answering all of the goals laid out in the competition assignment, and those which find an exceptionally commendable solution to a given part of the whole. The standout entries offer clear visions for the development of the region and complement each other. They offer a diverse platform for future visionary and strategic work.
The winner of the international Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 ideas competition is an entry entitled Emerald. Its author is planning agency WSP Finland Ltd. The core members of the competition team are the architects Juha Eskolin, Jenni Lautso, Ilona Mansikka and Tuomas Vuorinen. The jury characterizes Emerald as a visionary and versatile entry, which genuinely reaches into the future. The winner was awarded a prize of 160,000 euros. The jury placed three entries on the shared second place. Each was awarded a prize of 80,000 euros. An additional five entries were purchased, each being awarded 20,000 euros.
Summarized bases for the choices:
Emerald is an innovative entry where building is directed both to supplementing existing community structure and to some completely new areas in the urban core and border municipalities of the metropolitan area. The consequent community structure for the whole region is balanced. The choice of focal points for growth is determined by rail transport connections. Residents are encouraged to choose more ecologically viable lifestyles through various active inducements. The service structure is considered from new, innovative, and ecological bases. The service innovations include the idea of a mobile shop that comes to the client. Public transport is proposed to introduce a “climate bonus card” which benefits the user through e.g. free fares for favoring public transport. The entry thoroughly considers the quality of life from the perspectives of residents of different kinds and ages.
Emerald PDF (3,8 MB)
The following three entries received the shared second prize
Boundary Strips is an exciting and innovative entry whose basic premise is to guide supplementary building to the seams of existing community structure and green spaces. This attempts to avert the dispersal of the community structure. The author is German architect Frank Görge.
Boundary Strips PDF (5,8 MB)
Towards City 2.0 is an interesting and in a positive sense idealistic entry whose goal is to activate residents to create information, innovations, services, and entrepreneurship on their own initiative. Social innovations are presented to be the area's central developmental force (”Social Silicon Valley”). The members of the entry's creative team were architect Tuomas Toivonen, Hans Park and researchers Roope Mokka ja Aleksi Neuvonen, Finland.
Towards City 2.0 PDF (4,4 MB)
Holistic Uniqueness is an entry whose strongest offering is its analytical part, convincingly outlining the status of Finland and the capital region on the European and global scale. The goal of regional development is set to be the sharpening and balanced development of its profile. This is sought through distinguishing the different parts of the region and strengthening their identities. The authors are German architects Oliver Seidel and Verena Brehm, Cityförster -Network for Architecture.
Holistic Uniqueness PDF (14,4 MB)
These five entries were purchased
Metroscape Helsinki is a logically realized entry based on four clearly presented growth strategies: balanced, green, diverse, and flexible growth. The natural environment is developed in the vicinity of population concentrations to enable active recreational use. The insight is simple but commendable: if we live more densely in the future, there is an increased demand and use for quality park and green environments. The authors are a group of architects, landscape architects and engineers from the HafenCity University in Hamburg, Germany.
Metroscape Helsinki PDF (8,1 MB)
Orlando is a professional entry whose basic land use solutions are commendably linked to the development of both existing areas and public transport. The region's community structure remains dense in the entry, reducing the need for mobility. The author is Italian TSPOON architecture studio.
Orlando PDF (7,8 MB)
(R)evolver includes an interesting analysis of planning tactics applicable in different situations, including the increasing of attainability and togetherness, combining of functions, and articulating of edge areas. These are illustrated with detail studies and related inspiring scenic visuals. The authors of the entry are landscape architect Samuli Alppi, architect Anssi Joutsiniemi and professor Staffan Lodenius from the Tampere University of Technology together with architects Antti Moisala and Kimmo Ylä-Anttila, Arkkitehtistudio M&Y, Finland.
(R)evolver PDF (4,9 MB)
Line TM is an exciting entry emphasizing a cross-border perspective. Its premise is a linear development corridor based on a super-high velocity international train connection. The creative team, project leader Isabella Pasqualini, professor Dieter Dietz and architect Daniel Pokora is from the Polytechnic School of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Line TM PDF (3,1 MB)
Thirdlife is an entry researched from many perspectives, where the metropolitan area’s most important pull factors are defined to be the seaside and the sea. The center of growth is in the east, resulting in an anchor-like areal structure heavily dependent on coastal building. The authors are architect Marja Straver-Nevalainen and landscape architect Hans Dekkert from DN Urbland, the Netherlands.
Thirdlife PDF (24,8 MB)
Competition entries open for public
An exhibition of the awarded entries of the Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 ideas competition is open 21 January - 15 February 2008 in Helsinki City Planning Department, address: Kansakoulukatu 3, Helsinki (Monday - Friday 8:15-16:00).
- Jury Protocol PDF (10 MB)
- Arvostelupöytäkirja PDF (9,9 MB)
- Bedomningsprotokoll PDF (9,8 MB)