Architect Students Design Information Pavilion for World Design Capital Helsinki 2012
31.01.2011
Third year students from the Department of Architecture were given the task of designing the information pavilion for Word Design Capital Helsinki 2012 as part of their course work.
The designs were produced as a final project for the Public Buildings 1 course. The goal was to design an exhibition building that would promote the activities and objectives of the WDC year. A total of 36 designs were presented in the final critique on the 25th and 26th of January.
The information centre will be the number one site for information and exhibition activities of the World Design Capital initiative in Helsinki. The aim of the course was to learn about the designing of an information and exhibition centre as a functional and architectural whole and to study the integration of a building into its environment. The outdoor areas of the building are organically linked to its functions and architecture. The design aims were functional and structural clarity and a high-quality approach to architecture.
The building was to reflect its nature as an open public building and to communicate the theme of the initiative: Open Helsinki – Design Embedded in Life, or the notion of design as a part of life, which is also a central theme in the events planned in connection with World Design Capital Helsinki 2012. Helsinki can benefit from design by developing into a more attractive, vibrant and efficient city.
Using design to tackle the challenges faced by cities
The students created an environmental model for the building area and performed an analysis of the property area in small groups. In addition to lectures and exercises, the course also included an excursion and guest lectures. Among the teachers in the course were a structural engineer and a heat and ventilation engineer, who guided the students in their work in their own area of expertise.
The location for the building to be designed is on Yrjönkatu street in Helsinki, opposite the Design Museum. The design work was to be performed according to a space plan provided, which defined the net area of the building as 1 400 m2 and the gross area as 1960 m2.
The space plan included hall spaces, an auditorium, exhibition and office space, a library, a café/restaurant and a shop. Two weeks before the designs were due, the students had to present a layout plan for their presentation boards, after which they could complete their drawings and print them out.
Teachers in the course where architects Teemu Kurkela, Professor, Saija Hollmén, university lecturer, and Selina Anttinen, Juho Grönholm, Ville Hara and Esa Ruskeepää. Mikko Summanen, architect from K2S Oy, functioned as a visiting critic for the course.
Aalto University is the university partner of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 initiative. The WDC call for projects ends on 12 February 2011.
For further information:
Saija Hollmén, University Lecturer, Architect SAFA, M.Sc.(Arch)
Aalto University School of Engineering
saija.hollmen [at] tkk [dot] fi, +358 (0)40 587 9808
Kaisa Kivelä, Project Manager
World Design Capital Helsinki 2012
Aalto University, +358 (0)50 564 9253
kaisa.kivela [at] aalto [dot] fi
https://blogs.aalto.fi/wdc2012
In November 2009, International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) appointed Helsinki as Design Capital of the World for 2012. A new World Design Capital is chosen every other year. The designation is given to cities that use design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development. Various events associated with design are arranged in the cities selected as World Design Capitals.
