Typological Hybridizations – stoa

Spring 2016

Group X — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 20:00:51 +0000

Name Typological Hybridizations
Type Studio course
Organisers Aalto University, Department of Architecture, Group X + estudio Herreros (Madrid)
Level Master
Teachers Juan Herreros, Jens Richter, Fernando Nieto, Antti Ahlava, Ville Hara
Coordinator Fernando Nieto
Students featured Joshua Page, Tuomas Pinomaa, Jenni Salomaa, Benjamin Schulman

Urban Tempo

Group X — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 09:48:19 +0000

The proposal construction system in Urban Tempo, consist of three types of units. A core unit which includes all necessary services such as elevators, stairs, kitchens, and restrooms. This allows adjacent (second) units to have the most daylight, remain obstruction fee and therefore be versatile and flexible spaces for any given function such as working space, innovation space, open office, and study space. The third unit is a glazed atrium that holds all social functions such as garden cafes and restaurants.

Together these units form hybrid blocks that can be arranged in various ways creating an alternating tempo or rhythm through the urban structure.

Fragments

Group X — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:51:28 +0000

One of Otaniemi’s key characteristics is how the buildings are scattered within forest and greenery. When Otaniemi becomes a city, in a way, its origins should be respected. This is why the massing has been divided into several smaller clusters consisting of even smaller buildings. These buildings are kept random like most of the surrounding buildings, but with a unifying grid. The clusters have buildings of different usage, for example, housing, research, office shops, and student facilities. Within these clusters are connecting common space. These indoor courtyards could have cafés. restaurants or shops that would serve all connecting buildings.

The topography of the site is moderate and has some height differences. Because of this, ground floor levels change quite a bit. The height of the building varies quite a bit, too. The student union center building (near the relatively low Aalto library) are two floors while the highest buildings go up to six floors (of which most are housing in the other end of the plot).

Another important aspect is the difference between solid and transparent spaces for all the different functions. The courtyard and some of student union spaces would be very transparent, allowing insights into the work of the university, for example. Other spaces, like housing and projects requiring privacy, would be more solid.

Skygrid

Group X — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 06:00:52 +0000

Skygrid is a uniform grid oriented by compass directions and lifted over ten meters above the ground. Free from all restraints, it contains a non-hierarchical system for working and living, for researching the big universe and experiencing it. On the ground, the only building masses are the vertical cores on top of which Skygrid rests. The trees, grass, and red brick buildings of Otaniemi can keep on living as before. Connection to home and history is preserved, but in a new dynamic situation. Sunken courtyards provide natural sunlight to an underground innovation area. Removed from all context, the underground presents an opportunity to concentrate and imagine with full freedom, unrestrained by prevalent thought patterns which manifest themselves in our present surroundings.