Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 competition looks at future urban development
Source: Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 - “Emerald” submission
In a previous post I have written about the technological ascent of Finland in the last three decades. It is a country that does not rest on its laurels but looks far ahead with planning and environmental sensitivities rarely met in most parts of this world.
Helsinki is the capital of 1.3 million inhabitants, expected to grow to 2 million in the next fifty years. Because of the scale of the expansion that will take place, 14 towns and municipalities of the Helsinki region set up an international competition for proposals as to how it will all take place. The aim was to not only build a larger orderly city, but to also increase the influence and appeal of the city in financial, residential, business and cultural terms. An all important factor is the environmental impact and how to minimise it with public transport and sensible zone creation.
There were 86 approved proposals, of which “Emerald” of planning agency WSP Finland Ltd won the €160,000 prize. “Emerald” is striving to create a balance by extending existing areas and adding new ones. The area cores are linked by public rail transport, the later featured as the city’s backbone to promote environmental friendliness. Mobile shops that come to the client is a new idea that I have not met before and would love to know how it would operate -although moving merchandise on a regular base does not sound like a very practical idea.
Runner up entries are equally enticing, each of them revolving around a particular line of thinking. For example the “Boundary Strips” entry is stressing extensions of existing city areas, in order to achieve a compact overall area with minimised transport routes and environmental impact.
If you look at the competition’s site you will found summary information on each of the most popular entries, as well as .pdf files with great graphics that demonstrate each plan. From all popular entries, my personal favourite is “Line TM” of the Polytechnic School of Lausanne, Switzerland. The reason is that it looks at Helsinki as an integral part of the Baltic region and uses a high speed rail line to traverse Helsinki and link it with St Petersburg in Russia and the capitals of Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
So if a city this size is getting in such pains to plan its future, what should be done about the 20+ million inhabitant behemoths that seem to exceed every logical limit? Wealth and employment are vital prerequisites to have an appetite for serious planning and unfortunately it also works in that manner the other way round. Helsinki does not seem willing to take gambles for its residents and its future. Architect and planning agencies are more than willing for proposals and publicity and it seems that with Helsinki they are not wasting their time.
Source: Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 - “Emerald” submission
Source: Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 - “Boundary Strips” submission
Source: Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 - “Line TM” submission
Source: Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 - “Holistic Uniqueness” submission
Link 1: Greater Helsinki Vision 2050
Link 2: Electronrun
