Our proposed masterplan brings the disconnected urban areas of the Finnish capital back together. While the west coast serves as a base for a variety of sports and activities, the east coast is a vibrant part of the city which allows people to enjoy walks along the waterfront with views of the sea. Both sides of the harbour are connected by the historic marketplace – an important place in the identity of the city which requires only minimal alterations to connect it better with the rest of the area. New clusters of economic activities are planned along the waterfront, which will attract cultural and recreational events, and which will also help to generate new jobs in a wide range of sectors.
The east coast of the harbour aims to become one of the main destinations in the city, with bars and cafes lining the waterfront. New development within the masterplan includes buildings with multifunctional uses – the typology of these will need to provide a human dimension in allowing access to the waterfront and protection from the winds blowing in from the sea. The angular form of the buildings will create intimate, public spaces that contribute to the overall feeling and meaning of the place. How the wider area relates to the masterplan is an important consideration – Ehrensromintie Street offers the opportunity to expand Laivasillan Puistikko and Myllyrinne Park and Laivasillankatu can be transformed into a green corridor where only trams are permitted. The historic Tahtiominmaki Vuori Park is connected to the city's new beach at the Makasini Terminal. The new city beach uses hydrothermal energy in combination with geothermal energy from the underground ventilation system, which provides a permanent solution for space utilization throughout the year.
The historic Market Square is an important element of the city, which helps to define Helsinki. Preserving this historical cultural value and transforming it into an open multifunctional market space is a good way to celebrate and protect it. Our proposal intends to make a minor improvement for a better walking connection from Espalandi Park to the new museum and Katajanokka Terminal. A necklace of cultural attractions is situated around the port with the most important of these being the Guggenheim Gallery – a planned iconic building that encloses the Esplanadi Park, which will become an international destination. The proposed network of intertwined public spaces, forming various meeting places and uniting the new waterfront, is an opportunity for the city to draw the waterfront into the hustle and bustle of the urban environment, while maintaining the activities of its busy port.
I am the registered architect and university teacher, the working architect lacking theory who thus (occasionally) creates it (on his own); the principal, conceptual architect, visionary, philosophy and sociology adept and planner. I am interested not only in buildings and interiors but also in complex development of localities and settlements, public area and always holistic approach. With thirty years of experience, I am the partner to rely on in any type of project. I am occasional yachter, skier, snowboarder, biker and kick-boxer and a father of four children.I am the registered architect and university teacher, the working architect lacking theory who thus (occasionally) creates it (on his own); the principal, conceptual architect, visionary, philosophy and sociology adept and planner. I am interested not only in buildings and interiors but also in complex development of localities and settlements, public area and always holistic approach. With thirty years of experience, I am the partner to rely on in any type of project. I am occasional yachter, skier, snowboarder, biker and former kick-boxer and a father of four children.
Pavel Hřebecký
I have worked for the studio for many years at various positions from a new entrant to the head architect. I manage projects from construction design to project implementation documentation. I like having a break from administrative issues related to job orders and designing and I create CG graphics and architectural visualization. I cooperated with my colleagues on creation of the master plan of the South Port in Helsinki, the New Landhauska Apartment Building, New Žižkov Centre, U Milosrdných Apartment Building and many other projects.
