Helsinki, Finland

Koivusaari Internatioal Ideas Competition: SILTA

Andries Geerse, Johan De Wachter Architects

1.SILTA: BRIDGING ESPOO AND HELSINKI Koivusaari is the future ‘star’ according to the Greater Helsinki Vision 2050. The island is strategically located between the country’s political and cultural capital and its high tech powerhouse. This location as ‘just another neighborhood along the coast’ is simply not good enough. Koivusaari gets SILTA: an iconic symbol which reflects the region’s vision on bridging the authentic qualities of Espoo and Helsinki, meanwhile creating a strong regional coherence by making an innovative and sustainable statement.

2.SILTA: BACK TO NATURE! Koivusaari needs a clear choice for ecology. SILTA replaces the existing ‘cutting through’ highway which is anyhow not sea-level-raising-proof (+4.0 meter). This high and compact bridge-building creates an outstanding opportunity for restoring the three (!) Koivusaari islands to their historical shape and natural value. Lauttasaari’s continuous and relatively unspoiled coastline stays unharmed. Koivusaari regains its roll as an ecological stepping stone between Hanasaarenselkä and Lehtisaarenselkä.

3.SILTA: SUSTAINABLE ICON Koivusaari’s mixed use program of 185.000 m² (gross floor area) is situated on top of the new underground metro station. SILTA will be the home of ~~at least~~ 3.500 proud inhabitants and 1.500 high skilled employees in its creative industry. They all have ‘a room with a view’: sea side or lake side. The compact shape and perfect orientation generate unlimited possibilities for state-of the-art energy and water concepts. SILTA will be developed as the biggest passive solar ‘house’ in the world: Finnish hyper sustainability!

4.SILTA: MY HOME, MY BOAT Koivusaari is home to several yacht clubs and it should stay that way. Due to the elevated highway (+12.0 meter), sailors can navigate from Hanasaarenselkä to Lehtisaarenselkä and back around the island. The new marina hosts more than 700 boats. SILTA offers shops, sailing schools, indoor repair services and winter storage to all. The boat storage covers the inner multistory garage with 1.800 parking lots. In summer, when the boats are out, sailors can park their car in the storage (max. capacity: 2.250).

5.SILTA: SLOW & FAST Koivusaari should be considered as a delicate island, not as a traffic junction. For that reason SILTA embraces the highway and absorbs its environmental impact (acoustics, air quality). Exploring Koivusaari’s potential also requires a strategic decision. Lauttasaari will stay the main destination for car traffic. So it is the most logic location for highway exits, smartly embedded in existing topography and landscape. From there a network of ‘slow speed’ connections for cars, bicycles and pedestrians to Koivussaari will be realized.

Authors’name Andries Geerse stedenbouwkundige bv William Boothlaan 3A 3012 VG Rotterdam The Netherlands 0031 (0) 10 2829475 www.stedenbouwkundige.nl

Johan de Wachter Architects
William Boothlaan 3A
3012 VG Rotterdam
The Netherlands
0031 (0) 10 2807032
www.jdwa.nl

Persons holding the copyright: Ir. Andries Geerse, urban planner MSc (Netherlands)

and Ir. Johan de Wachter, architect MSc (Belgium)

Persons acted as assistants: Peter Bednar, urban design & landscape (Czech Republic)

Manuéline Caseau, interior design & sustainability (Belgium)

Marek Vogt, urban planning & infrastructure (Germany)

Europaconcorsi Beta

Koivusaari Internatioal Ideas Competition: SILTA