The site of the diploma work is situated in Helsinki’s oil harbour area, which is to be reused for housing. The plan consists of the area of the Kruunuvuorenranta’s waterfront, Haakoninlahti. The purpose of the design has been to devise an overall urban waterfront that would fit the current locale.
The subject was chosen because of my own interest to explore the land-water interface and familiarize myself with coastal construction as waterfront development is currently an emerging theme worldwide. There has not been any customer for this project.
Initially the planned residential area Kruunuvuorenranta was been examined. The draft focused on the Haakoninlahti waterfront (17 000 sqm). Three essential areas of the design are presented more closely.
Newly built coastal residential areas and parks in Helsinki and abroad have been studied as a reference for planning. Maritime features have been examined by photographing. A presentation about the environmental conditions of the Kruunuvuorenranta area and the boundary conditions as defined by the sea serve as a background for the plan’s proposals. The plan has been reviewed from the sketch to the detailed design stage.
The sea has considered as the most important design element on the Haakoninlahti waterfront and the changes on the water level have been the main theme of the plan. The natural conditions of the site are the basis for the designed landscape of the shoreline. How could the urban waterfront maintain the essence of the natural seashore, its transformational and aleatory character?
The idea has been to create an urban public space with a straight connection to the water. The water is allowed to rise to the shore: the shape of the shoreline vary along the water level changes. On days of high waters the lowest concrete platforms are flooded.
The design includes a sculptural entity of cast-in-situ concrete on Haakoninlahti’s shores. The principal features of this plan include concrete sea cliffs, sea-garden pools and a coastal meadow. The plan benefits from the concept of calcareous rock partly blasted from the site, motivating the usage of cast and demolished concrete.
The cast-in-situ concrete blocks form sea cliffs, with vegetation growing from the designed cracks among the concrete rocks. On the eastern shore of Haakoninlahti inclined winding concrete blocks, with smaller defined wooden spaces between them, create a social space for spending time by the sea. The plan allows visitors to interact with the sea and to go right down to the water.
On the western shore shallow sea garden pools engage the water. The pools are planted with water plants and other suitable species. Visitors can enter into the green by the water.
A calcareous meadow stretches to the sea on the bottom of the bay. The plan uses reclaimed concrete from the demolition of concrete structures from the area, using it in the composition of the planting zones allowing the limestone to dissolve and increase the alkalinity of the substrate, in turn enabling calcareous grassland vegetation to develop. The vegetation of this meadows has been inspired by perennial vegetation of stony banks and coastal meadows. Salt-resistant species and water plants has been used.
Concrete is used because of its characteristic durability in rough, wet and salty conditions. Cast-in-situ concrete gives the freedom of shape and makes variations to its surface possible: thus some blocks are patterned on the surface with stamping moulds. The concrete structures are cast with dyed and versatile layers, forming a kind of sediment structure.
- English Title : Dive – Haakoninlahti Urban Waterfront at Kruunuvuorenranta Residential Area
- University : Aalto University School of Arts and Design, FI
- Project was done for Course Unit : Maisemarakennushanke ( Project Management in Landscape Architecture )
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- Academic Year : 2007 / 08
- City : Helsinki
- Project Language : Finnish
- Supervisor : Sinkkilä Jyrki, prof
- Location of project : Finland
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