A competition to redesign one of Helsinki’s most visited places for the centennial year of Finnish independence.

In Association with

01.

The Soul Of Helsinki

The Helsinki Market Square is one of the most important locations in Finland - it’s a singular place where visitors and locals meet, and the most visited place in Helsinki.

The dominant feature of the area have been the clusters of market stalls, orange tents for selling produce and souvenirs. The stalls serve the purpose of sheltering the vendors and their wares, but do little to exploit the potential of the Square.

The Market Square Design Competition challenges you to design a concept for the area and a new model for the market stalls - creating a new Market Square for the city, that fulfills all the promises of the unique location.

02.

Kauppatori2017 is a three phase project

Spring 2016: Stall Design Competition for Aalto students.

A student competition, organized by Aalto University, for finding new concepts for the Market Square through the design of market stall prototypes. The competition will result in built models and an exhibition on the Square during summer 2016.

The winner is announced end of August. For more info, check the Competition Program

Summer 2016: Finalists Stall Prototypes and Visionaries on Havis Amanda Square.

An open call organized in collaboration with the City of Helsinki and Tukkutori to find new ideas for services and experiences that the market square could offer in the future. The design competition finalists stalls are offered to selected visionaries to test their ideas and give feedback on the finalist stalls. The aim is to offer to anybody a chance to participate in the co-creation of our market square and to be able to give feedback and vote for the best stall design. Follow our daily news and program here or on facebook.

Autumn 2016: Future of Kauppatori

The aim is to create a vision for the future of the market square to celebrate the centennial year of Finnish independence – Let’s see what we manage to do together!

03.

The Finalist

Check their story and images here

Sail!

The design has been described as “striking” and “a landmark” by the jury.

Team members & study programmes:

Tigran Khachatryan (Architecture)
Noora Kassinen (Architecture)
Kristaps Sveisberg (Creative Sustainability)

“The proposed design is a composition of Hypar shaped tensile structures that span over the Kauppatori marketplace like sails. Besides providing protection from unpleasant weather conditions sails also contain reference to the origin of the marketplace. They protect the marketplace at the same time letting its rich and diverse world to unfold underneath. Their openness symbolize the freedom of Finland and its people.”

Salut

The jury was pleased with the modern look of this design and stated “the asymmetric roof gives the design a new/old identity”.

Team members & study programmes:

Joona Heikkilä (architecture)
Ella Kaira (architecture)
Lauri Klemola (architecture)
Benjamin Åkerblom (architecture)

“Salut aims to rejuvenate the market square by combining old and new traditions. The form of the new stalls is modern, yet reminiscent of the existing market tents. The plywood and fabric construction is designed bearing in mind easy assembly and transportation.”

A Smooth Sea Never Made A Skilful Sailor

The jury was impressed with the team for also taking in consideration the negative spaces that the stalls create.

Team members & study programmes:

Liinu Kivioja (Landscape architecture / Product & spatial design)
Kamomilla Sarajärvi (Product & spatial design)

“One of the strongest elements of Kauppatori is its beautiful location by the sea. Our design was inspired by this constantly changing landscape where the waves are creating a carpet of positive and negative spaces on the water. Kauppatori is a place for different visitors, for different activities and for different atmospheres. It is a place where traditional meets modern. Kauppatori should breathe like the sea around it.”

Making Waves

The jury described the design harmonious and enjoyed the way the different height stalls would give a lively aspect to the area.

Team members & study programmes:

Angela Lin (Spatial Design)
Hsiao-Chun Shih (Applied Arts and Design)
Yihan Xiang (Spatial Design)

“Helsinki Kauppatori: a site that bridges the relationship of the city’s shoreline and its waters, is quite literally a representation of the unique products that comes from the surrounding land + seascape. Our proposed structures are an extension of the sea’s dynamic waves and colors, and seek to both visually and functionally represent the crossing of land onto sea, and sea onto land. It is versatile in accommodating different seasons and events through shifting in composition and formation, while still conveying a clear overall visual impact. The new Kauppatori will be a mash-up of traditional and modern ideals, represented in its presence as a visually modern manifestation of a traditional culture. Harmoniously embracing the harbor view and bringing to light the site’s signi cance and forgotten stories, our proposal is positioned to enhance the public market experience, and to “Make Waves” in Helsinki’s cultural scene.”

04.

How to get involved

Are you a Visionaire?

We provide selected applicants a stall free of charge on the market square around Havis Amanda in summer 2016. The duration will vary between one, three or seven days depending on your concept/idea between June - August.

Our main goal is to create new experiences and to test the usability of the prototype tents during the summer for different purposes. Open call is open until end of May.

Want something more or did you miss the deadline of the open call?

If you have an idea of how you would like to be involved, get in touch with us directly! We are always looking for cool ideas, partners and sponsors to make this whole project come alive!

05.

The Team

Oona Colliander, Project Manager

Jutta Menestrina, Producer

Karoliina Kuusi, Producer

Tommy Lindgren, Competition Secretary

Bruce Oreck, The Father

Will Cardwell, The Godfather

Also involved as support and jury members: Pirjo Sanaksenaho, Jaana Beidler, Turkka Keinonen, Rinna Räsänen, Pia Rantanen, Marko Härkönen, Otto Virenius, Merja Sorakari, Milla Visuri, Richard McCormick, Elina Siltanen and representatives of vendors. And everybody else who has helped us!

Also thank you for J.E.Murphy for the design work.

How to find us?

Our moving office is mostly located at Microsoft Flux, Korkeavuorenkatu 35, 00130 Helsinki, but most of the time you will find us at the Havis Amanda Square, next to Helsinki Market Square.

How to contact us?

Write to us on info@kauppatori2017.fi