STRIATION OF THE LANDSCAPE We were inspired by * the extraordinary natural beauty of the PLACE with the striation of the landscape, * the PEOPLE s vision and commitment to democracy in action and * the civic PURPOSE: to protect the natural and cultural treasures of the site and slowly and gently introduce the projected population growth. We propose to start small and compact, THE REGION The new heart will be served by the local Helsinki-Porvoo commuter line and a cross-country train following the ancient Kuninkaantie or King s Road. with a new HEART commanding the Sipoo valley and embraced by future expansion along the surrounding hills. The central civic squares overlooks the landscape and welcomes PEOPLE with an open heart. A new light tower will mark the entrance to the ruins of the Sibbesborg fort that will give the town its name and its soul. This unique heart will fulfill all five themes: SIBBESBORG KING S ROAD HEART AND SOUL HELSINKI SISSESBORG PORVOO REGIONAL PLANS
SITE NAVIGATION Find orientation with alignment Sipoo Bay to New Heart, looking From Sipoo River to the new From the new Marina to the new From the new Marina to the new Pedestrian walkway over of two light towers, looking North North Heart, looking North square, looking North square, looking North. the Sipoo River. from the archipelago LANDSCAPE Nestled between the twin islands that command the Sipoo Bay and River valley. A new civic square will be framed by new wooden loft buildings and houses that rise up the hills. The square is a gate to the protected park in the valley around it that treasures most significant natural and cultural landcapes. A new sequence of light towers will offer orientation from the sea, and culminates at the central heart with an overlook over the ruins and the landscape. A walk connects from the train station, to the square, the marina, over the wetlands to the pier in the Bay. ECOLOGY A small footprint reintegrates life and work, reducing commuting and energy use. A new wetland ring along the park perimeter will collect and filter storm water from roads, farms and towns before reaching the Sipoo river. TRANSPORT Uusi Porvoontie will It will be a new boulevard for train, public transit and traffic with raised pedestrian walks connected by bridges across the valley. A new multi-purpose bridge will cross the Sipoo River valley as it narrows and complete two traffic loops: the pedestrian walks along the valley and a street with public transit and infrastructure to serve the existing and new neighborhoods on either side. LIFESTYLE Alive all day long with mixed-use live-work lofts and all year long with outdoor play. SERVICES will concentrate at the new Heart and Uusi Porvoontie as a spine, it will connect to future university and hospital CONCEPT DIAGRAMS
OVERALL SITE PLAN PANORAMIC VIEW
SECTION - ELEVATION FOREST WETLANDS OUTDOOR THEATER INDOOR THEATER RUINS NEW SQUARE LOFTS HILL HOUSES CENTRAL PLAN RIVER ENTRANCE
HILL TOWN TERRACED WALK VIEW FROM THE MARINA TOWN SQUARE
OVERLOOK TOWER UNIVERSITY HILL INTIMATE SIDE STREET WATERFRONT FUTURE HILL TOWN
SIBBESBORG HEART AND SOUL
We were inspired by * the extraordinary natural beauty of the PLACE with its unique striation, * the PEOPLE s vision and commitment to democracy in action and * the civic PURPOSE: to protect the natural and cultural treasures of the site and slowly and gently introduce the projected population growth. We chose to start small and compact, with a new HEART that commands the Sipoo valley and will be embraced by future expansion along the surrounding hills. A new central civic squares opens up to the landscape and welcomes PEOPLE with an open heart. A new light tower will mark the entrance to the ruins of the Sibbesborg fort that give the town its name and its soul. This unique heart will fulfill all five themes: LANDSCAPE: This heart is nestled between the twin islands of Sibbesborg and Joensuu, commanding the strategic intersection of Sipoonlahti (Sipoo Bay) and the Sipoonjoki (Sipoo River) valley. It is set within a park extending from the archipelago along the coast of the Gulf of Finland to the Sipoo river valley; this park will protect most of the significant natural and cultural landscapes. The new heart is inspired by the striation of the landscape. The shoreline at the base has sandy beaches, wetlands, grasses, or cultivated meadows depending on the location. The hillsides have steep cliff walls with rocky patches: pine and hardwood forests with a diverse herb understory. These forests create a soft profile against the sky. The park s boundaries encompass most historic and pre-historic settlements from the Bronze Age, the Middle Ages,19th century manor houses, and at the center, the ruins of the 14th century Sibbesborg fort. These historic sites will be marked and lit at night, reflected in the water and accessed by park walks. Educational programs in schools and local clubs will promote knowledge and stewardship of both the natural and cultural landscapes. fig. 1. New heart within park boundaries encompassing most historic sites.
TRANSPORTATION: The new urban growth is introduced within the natural striation of the landscape with a simple architectural code: wooden loft buildings frame the central plaza and sit on pilotis along the waterfront and wood terraced housing follow the contours of the hills. The top of the hills retain the natural forest profile, with a possible exception for a cultural building as an acropolis on Sibbesborg hill. Typically, the loft buildings on pilotis are inspired by the great historic waterfront warehouses in neighboring Porvoo and in Bergen, Norway. These are both Unesco world heritage sites and culturally connected to the site via the old King s Road. They are long linear parti-wall buildings and create city blocks, with a public front facade, private back yard and very narrow side streets. This heart will be a destination by land and sea. The water offers the most romantic route. A new sequence of light towers will offer navigational orientation from the sea by marking significant thresholds: coastline archipelago, bay and river. To encourage public and private waterfront use, there will be a new marina next to the main square and a pier for sailboats. A walk connects from the train station, to the square, the marina, over the wetlands to the pier in the Bay. Ideally, in the future, a new drawbridge on the Porvoonväylä highway will allow sailboats to reach the central marina next to the square. The terraced housing rise up on the twin hills under the forest canopy. The houses fit gently within the existing forest, especially the hardwoods in Joensuu. Like most of the existing houses, they will be within a range of 10-25 meter above sea level. Because they adjust to the topography, they are more idiosyncratic in their orientation in plan. The houses closer to the center might also share a party wall and have a smaller lot; further away they are free standing. fig. 2. Water transportation.
It will be served by the local Helsinki-Porvoo commuter line (HELI) and a cross-country train following the ancient Kuninkaantie or King s Road. This 14th century mail road extended from Bergen on the Atlantic coast, connected Oslo, Stockholm, Mariehamn, Turku, Helsinki, Sipoo, Porvoo and ended in Vyborg (later in St. Petersburg, Russia). Near Sibbesborg, the trains will follow the Uusi Porvoontie right of way. This rural road will become a multi-modal boulevard including railroad, commuter train, public transit, bicycles and pedestrians and in multiple lanes divided by landscaped medians. To address the narrow valley between the hills, the boulevard will be multi-level in section, with a mid-level pedestrian walkway along the hillside. These pedestrian walks will be connected by bridges across the valley. As the city grows, the Uusi Porvoontie road will become a more urban boulevard framed by mixed-use buildings. It will have the new heart at the center and extend to the school at Söderkulla to the east and a new University campus to the West. To the north, a new multi-purpose bridge will cross the Sipoo River valley as it narrows. It will alleviate local traffic and complete two traffic loops: the terraced walks along the valley and a street with public transit, (buses and light rail) and infrastructure to serve the existing and new neighborhoods on either side. Everything in the heart is within walking distance and connected to trails to the adjacent towns and mountains. fig. 3. Uusi Porvoontie as an Urban Boulevard. fig. 4. New bridge to the north and ring road.
LIFESTYLE: ECOLOGY: The new heart will radiate life all day and all year long. The central square will welcome people with an open heart. It will be the stage to watch people, eat and drink with friends and neighbors, hold markets and civic events: concerts, dances, ice-skating and races. Its markets will feature local produce, dairy and fowl from adjacent farms, and fish from the fish market. The slope next to the ruins of the fort creates a natural amphitheater for summer festivals; a new theater building will have a double stage to open to the amphitheater in the back. The new heart will offer a range of living arrangements and house types. This square is framed by multi-purpose, live-work lofts to create a compact town that is walkable and accessible by train, boat and multiple trails. Protecting the Sipoo River Valley as a new central park will expand public opportunities for outdoor recreation next to the heart of the city and its future expansion. There will be new trails for walking, cycling and horseback riding. There will be new ways to enjoy the water, including new piers for sailboats in Sipoo Bay and small motor craft and kayaks in the marina. The whole area will offer winter sports: cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, ice-skating etc within walking distance from the heart of the city. The compact heart offers a small ecological footprint. It reintegrates life and work, minimize commuting time, space and cost and reduce energy consumption. Private car and service vehicles will be restricted to certain times of the days and to service alleys at the bottom of each hill. It will protect the landscape and minimize forest clearance. If possible, use the cut trees for new construction. It will offer an alternative lifestyle with walking, bicycles, cross-country skiing and snow shoes, public transit by land and water, even horseback riding. The hills and intimate side streets will offer wind protection and create a milder microclimate. Compact development also offers energy efficiency. A small extension of the energy grid will be sufficient. It could integrate multiple alternative energy sources: passive energy features through design and orientation, solar panels where appropriate and the hills could be used for geothermal energy installations. To heal the eutrophication of the river and delta, we propose wetlands along the park perimeter to filter storm water from restored creeks, farms and towns before reaching the river. We recommend connecting and uncovering creeks in the region and minimizing agricultural and industrial waste from going into the watershed. These wetland paths will be also the connecting the monuments.
EMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES: A new water management system is needed to heal the eutrophication of the river and the delta. This includes managing existing wetlands to promote healthy habitats, reconnecting and uncovering creeks that were channeled and/or covered and promoting new practices to minimize agricultural and industrial waste from going into the watershed. We introduce a new ring of shallow wetlands along the perimeter of the park to collect and filter storm water from creeks, farms and adjacent settlements before reaching the river. The paths along these wetlands will also tie to those connecting the monuments. As it grows, Sissesborg s local economy will offer employment opportunities and markets. It will create a local food market for the neighboring farms, making them more economically viable. It could also promote local bakeries, creamery for milk, yogurt and cheese, bee-keeping for honey and other small artisanal food production. As a tourist destination it can create jobs for guides, instructors for outdoor activities, tour operators, as well as catering and hospitality. On the ground floor, it will house retail and entertainment, restaurants, bars, etc... The mezzanine houses offices, including incubator spaces to promote new entrepreneurial ventures. The fish market and the marina will also be destinations supporting economic activities, including jobs to service boats. The Uusi Porvoontie urban boulevard will become the major spine for work, jobs and services. The multi-story buildings framing the boulevad will include commercial below, office space and apartments with great views of the valley. The boulevard will connect the existing school complex to the east with a new university campus and hospital complex to the west. fig. 5. New ring of wetlands filters run-off. Uncover and reconnect creeks. The University hill will provide higher education and research labs. It will serve as an incubator for entrepreneurs to create new experimental local companies and new jobs.
IMPLEMENTATION PHASES: We advocate a compact city with very intense investment on the new heart and the landscape. As the population grows beyond this initial phase, the heart and its park setting will be embraced by a new expansion ring set within the forest of the surrounding hills, and reinforcing the frame created by the topography. This expansion will reconnect the neighboring Söderkulla, Hansas, Eriksnäs to create an interconnected public realm. We recommend a series of urban blocks, allowing view corridors to the valley and many cross paths for public access. This is in contrast to the current pattern of suburban sub-divisions with cul-de-sacs, which is environmentally unsustainable. It creates dead ends that increase the effective distance between places, increase reliance on private cars and therefore, increase traffic congestion. These are suggested phases: 3 2 9 6 1 4 and 5 7-8 10 Phase 1. The heart of the town with the surrounding park in the Sipoo Bay and River valley. 5,000 10,000. 1.1. Create the new central square, surrounded by private loft buildings and with the pedestrian bridges across the valley. 1.2. Define the park boundaries to protect its natural and archeological treasures. This will include public and private properties, including forests and farms. Build new public paths and trails. 1.3. Implement the new water management system, including the new wetlands along the edge of the park. 1.4. Establish multiple public- private partnerships to implement these different goals. These might entail land purchases or land swaps between public and private properties. PHASE 2. The Uusi Porvoontie urban boulevard to Söderkulla. Up to 15,000. 2.1. Transform the road into a desirable boulevard. 2.2. Extend on both sides of the street and connect to the existing school. 2.3. It integrates existing buildings along the road. 2.4. New multi-story commercial, office and housing will frame the boulevard. 2.5 This will be a multi-level boulevard, with public sidewalks above street level where necessary. This elevated public sidewalk will connect to the bridges across the valley leading to the heart of the city. fig. 6. Phases of growth..
PHASE 3. North East quadrant. 10,000. 1. This creates an arc of development with a new public promenade along the ridge that offers views of the Sipoo river valley. 2. It will connect to Söderkulla and Hansas and provide them with both visual and physical access to the river. 3. Most of the new development is on the intermediate terrace between 10 and 25 m. above sea level. 4. It will frame and protect the Söderkulla Manor estate. 5. Density increases next to the loop road and decreases along the waterfront to keep the forest edge. PHASE 4 and 5. South East quadrant. 20,000. 1. This also creates an arc of development with a new public promenade along the ridge with views of the Sipoo river valley. 2. Add a new road in the vicinity roughly parallel to Eriksnasintie, the main north south road, to improve access and set up the main traffic loop for public transit. 3. It leads to Eriksnas and Kallback south of the highway. 4. Part of the development is on the intermediate terrace and part is at valley level. 5. Density increases closer to the loop road. PHASE 6. West side of Uusi Porvoontie urban boulevard. 10,000. Due to the current small population on the west side of the valley, we are speculating this side would be a later stage. Previous phases, such as the success of the new heart and a new station in the center, might make the west side of the urban boulevard a higher priority. PHASE 7 and 8. South West quadrant. Like phase 6, this quadrant might be developed sooner once the new heart at the center is well established. This quadrant has two levels and corresponding phases. Phase 7 is at valley level, next to the marina and Phase 8 is on the wooded hill, with excellent views of Sipoo Bay and the islands along the coast. PHASE 9 North West quadrant. 10,000. Previous phases, including the new heart, will provide incentives for developing this area. The new bridge at the north of the valley and completing the Loop road will improve public access and transit. PHASE 10 University Hill 10,000. A new college - university - research campus would be a major engine and it will balance development on both sides of the valley. It will be more viable with the new heart in place. It can be independent from the other phases.
ABSTRACT We chose to start small and compact, with a new HEART commanding the valley and embraced by future expansion along the surrounding hills. The new civic squares welcomes people and the landscape with an open heart. It is next to the Sibbesborg ruins that give the town its name and soul. This unique heart fulfills all five themes: Landscape: It is nestled between the twin islands in the Sipoo Bay and River valley. In this striated landscape new wooden loft buildings frame the civic square and houses rise up the hills. Transportation: A destination by land and sea, it is served by a local commuter and a cross-country train along the old King s Road, with a new pier and marina. Lifestyle: Alive all day long with mixed-use life-work lofts and all year long with outdoor play. Ecology: A small footprint reduces forest clearance, commuting and energy use. The hills offer geothermal power and wind protection. Jobs and services: a new spine for markets, a future university and hospital.