Students developed Otaniemi waterfront walkway

During the course, the student teams created a plan to develop urban pathways and recreational routes in Otaniemi peninsula. The case was strongly anchored into existing concerns. The group work was facilitated by experienced researchers with different orientations around urban planning. In addition, the course featured inspirational talks from experts. On the final day the student teams presented their solutions to a wider audience. Jury evaluated the results and gave feedback.

Jury selected student team number five “W(e)ave Walk” as winner, which was also voted as favorite by the audience. Members:

• Inka Norros, landscape architecture, Aalto University, Finland
• Eira Jacobsson, architecture, KTH, Sweden
• Joel Jalkanen, environmental sciences / urban ecology, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Ann-Catrin Wells, social sciences / cultural geography, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Ingvild Kaurstad Mørk, human geography, University of Oslo, Norway

Second prize was given to team number two, “Unbreak the Heart”, members:

• Hanna-Maaria Kiema, architecture, Aalto University, Finland
• Rawaf al Rawaf, architecture / social-ecological view, Stockholm Resilience Center, Sweden
• Katri Backman, geography, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Karl Nygren, social sciences / cultural geography, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Ann-Elise Gustavsen, urban planning / construction management, DTU, Denmark

Winners of Nordic Case Competition in Sustainable Urban Development were selected on 28.10.2015 in Espoo. All 5 student presentations are available at:

nordicsustainablecampusnetwork.wordpress.com/nordic-case-competition-2015/

The program included input from Otaniemi stakeholders like local residents´ representatives, student union AYY, city of Espoo, Espoo association for nature conservation ESPYY and Aalto University vice president for campus development Antti Ahlava. The project was a part of Nordic Sustainable Campus Network´s project, Rio+20 in Nordic Higher Education Institutions. The intensive days were held October 26-28, 2015 in Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Center and Aalto University main campus Otaniemi in Espoo, Finland.

Nordic Case Competition academic tutors:

• Aija Staffans, Senior Research Fellow, Architect, Aalto University ENG
• Antti Lehto, Architecture, Aalto University ARTS
• Kati Vierikko, Urban ecology, University of Helsinki
• Katri-Liisa Pulkkinen, Architecture / socio-ecological view, Aalto University ENG
• Outi Tahvonen, Landscpe architecture, Aalto University ARTS
• Salla Jokela, Geography, University of Helsinki

Nordic Case Competition jury members:

• Ulla Loukkaanhuhta, Head of Department, Landscape, Ramboll Finland, Otaniemi resident
• Antti Uusitupa, Architect, Espoo Town Planning Department
• Pauliina Skyttä, Architect, Aalto University Campus and Real Estate
• Stephen Venn, biologist at Univ.of Helsinki and chair for ESPYY, Espoo association for nature conservation

The course was financially covered by Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, the Nordic Council of Ministers and Aalto University. Organizers included also Urban Academy, Helsinki University and Nordic Sustainable Campus Network (NSCN).

More information:

Nordic Case Competition 2015, NSCN and Rio+20 project: nordicsustainablecampusnetwork.wordpress.com/nordic-case-competition-2015

Aalto University contact persons:

Meri Löyttyniemi
chair of Nordic Sustainable Campus Network NSCN
[email protected]
+358 50 313 7549
aalto.fi/sustainability

Meeri Karvinen
project manager for NSCN
[email protected]
+358 50 407 1884
aalto.fi/nscn

Photo: Maria Viitanen, Aalto University