The First Steps of the Tramway City
Trial runs of Finland’s first light rail were underway in Tampere in November 2020. As part of the project, the Hämeensilta bridge over the Tammerkoski rapids was also rebuilt.
Technology, Asphalt and Attitudes
The Finnish transport system’s development around the passenger car has caused great societal problems. Instead of broader systemic change, the visions of mobility futures still focus on emerging technologies.
Learning from the Ugliest Building in Oulu
In the middle of a residential area in Oulu, a silo designed by Alvar Aalto is decaying as one last remnant of a pulp mill that operated on the site in the 1900s. In its unmaintained state, the building offers a lesson in the time of an eco-crisis.
Architects as Mediators of Change
Over the recent decades, the temporary use of vacant spaces has been recognised as a sustainable and inclusive approach for managing urban change. For architects, working with temporary uses can be an opportunity to challenge structures that restrict typical architectural work.
How Do You Convert an Office Space into Apartments?
In the Helsinki capital region alone, there are currently around 50 city blocks’ worth of empty office space. On the other hand, there seems to be a constant demand for housing. Under what preconditions are office spaces converted into apartments?
Would Nostalgia Provide Help for the Eco-crisis?
Emotionally charged nostalgia could be a resource for building conservation if used correctly, argue Iida Kalakoski and Riina Sirén.
Two Municipal Halls, Two Fates
Many significant buildings end up on lists for demolition if renovation seems too expensive or a suitable use cannot be found. The everyday built heritage is threatened without a timely protection status.
Construction Waste and the Fiction of Purity
Modern architecture has made a clear distinction between waste and new construction. A more comprehensive understanding of the concept of waste could help us in understanding the issues of demolition and preservation.
Housing as a Solution
In cities worldwide, people are suffering the effects of a prolonged housing crisis. Housing as a Service has been presented as a solution, but who does it really benefit?