International idea competition to for future structure of Helsinki region
Population expected to double by 2050
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What kind of a place will the Helsinki region be in 2050, when the area is expected to grow to be a metropolis of two million people?
Will there be many skyscrapers, and where might they be built? Or will there be a sprawl of single-family houses spreading over land that is now covered by forests and fields?
Where will the anticipated record surge of new construction take place, and how will transport be organised, when 700,000 new residents settle in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and 11 other municipalities in the area.
An international idea competition is planned to help deal with these questions. It is being organised by the 14 municipalities of the Helsinki region, as well as the Ministry of the Environment, and the Finnish Association of Architects.
The Greater Helsinki Vision competition concludes in May 2007, and the best entries will be made public in December next year.
Organisers of the competition hope that the EUR 500,000 in prizes will attract entries from around the world. The state will put forward a quarter of the costs.
"The year 2050 may seem a long way off, but we must boldly look into images of the future. If nothing is ventured, then nothing will move forward, and now development is moving forward too slowly. New visions will certainly come from other parts of the world", says Aimo Lempinen, Executive Director of the Uusimaa Regional Council explains.
The appropriate and environmentally responsible balance of land use, housing, and transport is a great challenge. About 700,000 new homes are expected to be built in the Helsinki region, which is more than the present number.
"If the metropolitan area were to be an attractive place to live, we would need much more homes for families, and they should be bigger than they are now", says Tanja Sippola-Alho, Secretary of the City of Helsinki, who was responsible for preparations of the planning competition along with the planning managers of the other municipalities.
New homes are needed to bring housing prices down to a moderate level.
Living space is expected to increase as wealth grows. Currently, residents of the Helsinki region live in much more cramped quarters than those in the Greater Stockholm Area, or Greater Copenhagen.
The basic setup of the competition involves 12 top projects, including the proposed Marja rail link for the north of Vantaa and the areas near the line, the westward extension of the Helsinki Metro, and the extension of the Ring II road. These projects, as well as improvements on the coastal rail link west of Helsinki are expected to give new access to areas where more housing could be built.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 19.12.2006 - TODAY |
 International idea competition to for future structure of Helsinki region |
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