Tampere, Finland

Scion

The proposal seeks to find possibilities for small-scale housing to form eco-efficient urban fabric while at the same time creating memorable, versatile, dense and socially stimulating urbanity.

Sustainable strategies adapted on the site

Minimizing the building footprint – integrating/binding all built elements

The building’s footprint is minimized by placing all built elements – apartments, yards, garages and storage spaces – in a dense ribbon, and by making use of the contours, views and landscape structure of the site. At the same time the buildings create a memorable and inviting entrance block for the new housing area.

Utilizing passive design strategies for zero carbon

When the goal is to build energy-efficient houses while maintaining costs at an affordable level, utilising passive solar heating is the most sensible starting point. The massing, orientation, window placement and construction materials of a building are optimised to make use of the free energy provided by the sun. The two primary elements of passive solar heating are south-facing glass and thermal mass, which absorbs and distributes heat.

In the proposal ecological aspects have shaped the distinctive features of the architecture, making the building components actively contribute to the energy performance of the building. All the south-facing facades have a glazed sunroom / sunshelves, which is connected to the living spaces. The use of the sunroom can be altered to suit the changing seasonal conditions. In the warmer months the sunroom collects heat during the day, preventing excess heat from entering the living spaces. It also acts as a greenroom, where the residents can grow plants in optimal conditions. In the colder months the sunroom can be opened to be used as an extension to the living space. During the day solar energy enters the building directly through the windows and is stored in the thermal mass of the floors and massive walls. During the night the stored heat is slowly released. The heat-storing fireplace is connected to the heat-absorbing structures of the house. The roof angles have been optimized for solar panel installation.

Introducing housing preferences & comfort in dense structure

The demands generated by changing household structures and the rising average age of the population set a whole new group of challenges for housing design. The continuously changing life conditions and the growing idealisation of individuality create pressure for versatility and flexibility. The main challenge of eco-efficient urban structure is to answer to the needs and preferences of the future residents with compact and flexible housing design. The proposal seeks to achieve the comfort level of a traditional one-family house with a new kind of dense structure. One of the main goals has been to develop private and common outdoor spaces simultaneously – this in order to cater for the need of privacy while creating opportunities for a social community. A wide range of intimate outdoor spaces – including private yards, gardens, greenrooms, rooftop gardens and multi-use garages – offer possibilities to expand the private sphere while keeping the structure relatively dense. The apartments are compact but spacious and have an abundace of light and views.

Promoting communality by creating shared functions and a social garden

The proposal aims to intensify communality by making high-standard common areas. The square meters shared by all residents such as the luxurious sauna, laundry room and recycling station will optimally help to spend square meters inside the apartments more efficiently and ecologically. The sauna inside the apartment is optional. The social garden invites for interaction and gives the opportunity take part in voluntary activities. The garden will also act as a functional landscape with assigned plots both for growing crops and for stormwater absorption.

Generating different, diverse and flexible housing conditions

Innovative housing typologies are the main elements in a compact city. The goal has been to create a structure that is both individual and flexible, allowing for dwellings on a broad spectrum. The diverse range of apartments from the terraced house on the northern side to the semi-detached houses on the southern side offers apartment sizes varying between 45 and 130 square meters. The apartment types vary from family dwellings to easily customisable lofts. The one-storey apartments on the ground floor serve as an accessible option for one-family housing.

Creating economical & technical feasibility

The degree of finishing in the apartment can be chosen by the future residents. The development offers shared-use and ecological alternatives for the most expensive square meters, such as the saunas and laundry rooms.

The building can be constructed with the techniques of standard building construction: the units can be made as repeating elements. The massive structures are long-lasting and easy to repair. The lifecycle costs of the building have been optimised by avoiding high-risk structures. The materials chosen are local, ecological and lasting.

PROGRAM
Housing total: 2712 sqm2
Common spaces: 294 sqm2
Multipurpose / garage / storage space : 594 sqm2

CREDIT LIST:
Author: Selina Anttinen, architect SAFA
Collaborators:
Vesa Oiva, architect SAFA Jussi Kalliopuska, architect SAFA Karoliina Hartiala, student of architecture

Europaconcorsi Beta

Scion