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programme concours europan 7 site de pori My Block Is 44 maître d’ouvrage europan architecte Marc Lacombe Nicolas Guarnotta lieu Pori calendrier fevrier 03 |
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[ concours ] europan 7 - site de Pori - " My Block Is 44 " |
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[ From The Harbour To The Grid ] Positioned along the Kokemäenjoki River near where the river’s delta spills into the golf of Bothnia, Pori has always enjoyed an important economic harbour activity. Its geographic situation and port-related industry make Pori the 10th largest city in Finland. It is also due to this port industry (storage, including the stockpiling of flammable materials), that the city’s centre has been destroyed by fire several times, and then rebuilt. During the last reconstruction of the city centre, city planners chose a checkerboard-grid type plan. This urban format of blocks and cross-streets has proved itself since antiquity, from an economic standpoint, as being effective for development and adaptability. This plan is especially pertinent in Pori where the width of the streets has a direct impact on fire propagation and port industry development. [ From The Grid To The City Block ] Changes in the economic environment of the city (relocation of port-related industries, unemployment) have been reflected in the incompletion and even further—the transformation of the grid. City blocks, those closed geometrical forms defined by the criss-cross layout of streets, were never built up. We are left with an assemblage of architectural elements that spread over the city and over different eras, from where tall buildings and high-rise apartment complexes of the 1970’s emerge. Looseness within this urban fabric has left the automobile reign over this 19th century city layout. Dividing further the dichotomy between public and private space, the automobile is everywhere, its asphalt unifying and omnipresent in Pori. [ From The City Block To Block Number 44 ] Emptiness and a lack of density have led us to develop a system of densification by entity. Current trends move towards the creation of large public, pedestrian axes connecting different facilities and services. So that this planning is the same on every level, we have applied the same logic to our block. Our methodology consists of giving an identity so strong to each block that it is identifiable as an entity and a notion of belonging is introduced: “I live on block 44 and it looks like…” In our model, the building materials, colours and plants are unique to each block. Our concern for this detail extends to the ground and pavement, which will be diversified. In our model, we have also integrated the notion of autonomy for each block, incorporating various necessary services within each block itself, such as a self-service laundry, a day-care centre, a medical clinic, etc. Through the densification of these city blocks we hope to establish an urban logic that provides character and a sense of belonging, as well as a feeling of community. Block 44, where 3/4 of the terrain is vacant, is an isolated case. It is necessary to choose the city blocks for rehabilitation well, so that they will represent centres of attraction and stimulate transformation all around them. The solutions and details for each block should be developed on a case-by-case basis, though governed by an overall concept to maintain homogeny. [ From The City Block To The Garden ] By attributing various sports and cultural facilities specific to each block, interconnections between different blocks will be developed (e.g.: one block will have a theatre, others will receive a sports centre, and a parking complex for another): “And how about a tennis match on block 32?” or “Would you like catch a movie tonight on block 27?” or even “I’ve made us theatre reservations for tomorrow night on block 16”. These various facilities will always be combined with housing--for all situations and all ages (bachelors, young couples, large families and the elderly)—so that strictly residential neighbourhoods or districts dedicated only to business can be avoided, and a harmonious blending of activities will ensue. Public and semi-public spaces will be reserved on every block, depending on the type of buildings around them. Primary and secondary routes as well as pedestrian paths that encircle the block will decide what entryway will lead from the exterior to the interior of the block. Our context is not in the limits of the city, but within the heart of the city, dense, incorporating disparate pieces of nature tied together by large green axes. [ The Blocks ] 1 Public – Semi-Public -- Private Between the street and the interior heart of the block, three types of spaces are defined: a. Public Space On the ground floor, the shops or small enterprises will define a buffer space between the street, the interior of the block and the semi-private spaces. A path that crosses the entire block from east to west allows access to a part of the garden. b. Semi-Public Space Encompassing the centre of the block, and treated as a garden and passageway, the semi-public space is dedicated as a meeting place for the habitants. c. Private Space Comprised of housing with a double orientation (one side having a view onto the street, the other onto the garden) large footbridges provide a private, communal space for all of the inhabitants. 2 Autonomy Of The Block The block is composed of housing that rests on a raised foundation. This platform is consecrated to tertiary activities, sports and cultural facilities, as well as those activities and services directly related to the daily needs of the inhabitants, such as a day-care centre, a medical clinic and a self-service laundry, etc…which will promote neighbourly encounters. [ Anatomy of Block 44 ] 1 A Void In Response To A Protuberance The corner of the block will be subject to a void (a public space) that will manifest itself by a specific pavement covering. This will allow the site to breathe in response to the massive 12-story high-rise directly across the street. This will also insure continuity with the park that is situated south of Block 44. There is a clearing and path that leads the eye or the feet to the inside of the block where there are the terraced gardens. This corner acts as an articulation between Block 44 and Pori. 2 The Elevated Foundation From street-side, the elevated foundation appears as a black, coarse lava monolith that the housing buildings are resting upon. From the interior block garden, the elevated foundation will be glazed so that those inside will have a view onto the terraced landscape. The elevated foundation will allow for the various entryways required: housing access (private), parking (public or private), diverse facilities (public), and garden entry (semi-public). The elevated foundation can be easily adapted to a diversity of uses. 3 The Facades Facing The Street From street-side, there is a strong disassociation between the elevated foundation and the other buildings that are poised upon it. This rupture has a dual usage, at the same time that it creates a perceptible urban continuity; it also reveals the housing buildings as being strikingly different—a visual separation of activities. Like the city itself, the housing buildings represent visually the mixed nature of the individuals that inhabit them. 4 The Facades Facing The Garden As seen from the garden side, the facades appear to be essentially composed of passageways. Acting as a space that can be punctually appropriated by the inhabitants, these connected terraces are designed to promote social contact. In contrast to the street-side view, which is quite animated, the garden side facades are similar to one another. 5 Morphology Of The Building Despite the four different building morphologies represented, from the heart of the block a block-identity can be perceived. The four morphologies denoted are the following: The building which is on the park-side with the colourful, rotating, outer shutters; a building whose low height does not block the view for the buildings behind it, and enables the sun to reach the garden. The building, which is on the southern corner, has a ribbon structure that links together two parts of the building. The north corner building that is comprised of three separate structures. The building that borders the existing office and is composed of one large entity with colourful blinds and three other satellites. 6 The Terraced Gardens On Block 44, the buildings on the periphery enclose a terraced garden, underneath which exist two levels of parking. This green space is defined as the passageways are, that is as a semi-public space. The garden’s height corresponds at certain places with first floor entryways. This landscaping is prolonged on the southeastern side of the block by a small arboretum that acts as a liaison between two parts of the lot and that opens upon a public path. 7 Construction – Sustainable Development For the southern facing buildings, an “envelope” system of a double wall that has one side glazed and an air space in between the two walls will be put in place. This system, combined with the blinds and shutters to block out sunlight, operates as a natural thermal regulator. [ Housing Typology - Quantitative: ]
[ Stages ] We have had determined 4 stages for the project [ image ] | |||||||||||||
