Seinäjoki: Somewhere over the Railway | E13 Special Mention
Europan 13 - Espoo, Finland
Sito Oy received an honorary mention for the entry “Seinäjoki: Somewhere over the Railway”.
The plan emphasized mobility, pedestrian and bicycle routes as well as high-quality urban space. The railway was a major theme, as people would have to cross this barrier: each underpass or bridge has a public space and social attractions at each end to make this transition easier.
A network of public spaces and accessible connections weaves through existing and new city structure. An array of new functions including residential, accommodation, commercial, office, culture and leisure are located in the developing district and boost the liveliness of Seinäjoki. The district is developed in phases allowing for a variety of temporary functions during the long construction process.
The project was divided into three phases and 24 separate parts.
PHASE ONE / 2015-2020
Phase one emphasizes the central theme of the railway and the station area. The parts to be developed in this timespan are the Urban boulevard; the Mobility terminal; a widened underpass & public space from the Mobility terminal to the eastern side of the tracks; and
the construction of both commercial and residential buildings.
PHASE TWO / 2020-2030
Phase two is a continuation of phase one, and continues the work begun to the southern part of the railway area, as well as a bit to the south. There seven parts of the total scheme completed in this phase: a mixed use Market Hall is established into the old locomotive stables, as well as some residential buildings constructed in the vicinity; the Business Park enters Stage 1; an iconic pedestrian and bicycle bridge is constructed over the railway, as well as public spaces; Kindergarten and spaces for workshops are established in the area;
a so-called “Barn Village” is constructed at Hotel Alma; more residential infill is constructed; and a park, aptly named “Railway Park” is created.
PHASE THREE / 2030-2050
The last phase, phase three, is the most quiet of them all. Now the Business Park enters Stage 2 in its development; a northern bridge is created for pedestrian and bicycles, as well as public spaces; and residential development continues in the northern part of the area.
The total built area is approximately 90 000 square meters.
In the end, a completely renovated and regenerated brownfield project stands finished. The new station is a unique, contemporary hub of mobility. All main directions lead to this new urban magnet. Four attractive pedestrian and bicycle accesses cross the tracks. One of the accesses goes all the way across Valtionkatu Street to enhance connectivity even more. Each underpass or bridge has a public space and social attractions at each end. Furthermore there are viewpoints and places for people to meet en route on the bridge. Light shafts in the underpasses enable plantings and vegetation also underground. The Railway Park functions a green crossing over the barrier effect of the tracks, complementing the larger green structure of Seinäjoki. The most strategic part of Valtionkatu Street is to be developed as an urban boulevard with emphasis on human scale high quality environment. Extra effort and space is focused on spacious pedestrian environment and high quality bicycle lanes.
The plan emphasized mobility, pedestrian and bicycle routes as well as high-quality urban space. The railway was a major theme, as people would have to cross this barrier: each underpass or bridge has a public space and social attractions at each end to make this transition easier. Residential blocks with a mixture of dwelling typologies result in a cheerful richness of architecture and lifestyles.
A network of public spaces and accessible connections weaves through existing and new city structure. An array of new functions including residential, accommodation, commercial, office, culture and leisure are located in the developing district and boost the liveliness of Seinäjoki. The district is developed in phases allowing for a variety of temporary functions during the long construction process.
Sito Oy received an honorary mention for the entry “Seinäjoki: Somewhere over the Railway” in Europan 2013.
Credits go to authors:
Jenni Lautso (FI)
Sisko Hovila (FI)
Riikka Österlund (FI)
Suvi Saastamoinen (FI)
Jun Yang (FI)
And collaborators:
Annina Vainio (FI)
Enni Oksanen (FI)
Anna af Hällström (FI)
Otto-WIlle Koste (FI)