1/2019 Urbanity

Globally expanding cities are changing our understanding of urbanism and urbanity. Today, most Finns spend their entire lives in environments shaped by urbanism, which has also grown our expectations regarding the quality of urban culture and life in general.

What exactly is the urbanism or the ideal of urban life that appears in the visions and plans of Finnish cities? The issue contemplates the current urban centres and shopping mall projects, the design guidelines of urban spaces, and high-rise building, among other things. Currently, for example new urban centres and residential neighbourhoods drawing inspiration from the external features of traditional older cities, are under construction. At the same time, the vocabulary of urban discussions still includes more traditional words like marketplace, square, street and block.

The projects presented in the issue can be looked at as different cases of urban infill. Helsinki Central Library Oodi occupies the last plot available at Töölönlahti Bay, whereas Ratina Commercial Centre expands the city centre of Tampere. Airut Block in Jätkäsaari, Helsinki represents a new urban block typology. Student housing in Kumpula, Helsinki occupies a cramped block in the university campus and Trekoli, a wooden apartment building for seniors, tries to fit into an existing, traditional wooden townscape in Kuukkari, Pori.

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