ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Helsinki Airport Terminal 2 expansion in Vantaa, Finland by ALA ArchitectsAugust 6th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: ALA Architects ALA, HKP AND RAMBOLL WIN THE COMPETITION FOR THE EXPANSION OF HELSINKI AIRPORT TERMINAL 2 ALA Architects, HKP Architects and Ramboll Finland have won the invited competition for the expansion of Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport with their entry “City Hall”. The competition was organized by the Finnish airport operator Finavia. Altogether four teams were selected for the competition based on a request for qualifications. In addition to the expansion, the design task also included a regional plan for the airport area and the necessary modifications of the existing terminal, as well as a ground transportation hub to be built at a later stage. The schematic design phase commences immediately after the publication of the results. The expansion will be built in phases with the preliminary date of completion set for 2021. The project is part of Finavia’s development program, worth approximately one billion euros.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects
 Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects THE WINNING ENTRY “CITY HALL” The terminal expansion, mentally linking Finland with the World, comprises two building volumes: “City Hall” and “Security Box”. “City Hall” houses the check-in and arrivals halls, and “Security Box” the security control and baggage claim areas. The existing departure and arrival areas of the terminal will be fully transformed into gate areas. This solution provides both passengers and services with plenty of additional space. The aim is to simplify the passenger paths at the airport in such a manner that the passenger will recognize both the entrance and the whole process from arriving to the terminal to boarding a plane at a glance. Of the two new volumes “City Hall”, projecting from the overall building volume, will become the new face of the terminal, whereas “Security Box”, even if further back, will be recognizable due to its blue façade coloring. The imposing new departure hall is a continuous space decked by an undulating wooden ceiling. The roof structure will be built of pre-fabricated spruce-clad glulam elements. Its design has been greatly influenced by the massive plywood wall sculpture “Ultima Thule” that the Finnish government commissioned from Tapio Wirkkala for the Nordic pavilion at the Expo 67 in Montreal. Wirkkala’s iconic glassware by the same name is still being used in the first class cabins of Finnair’s long haul flight today. Another artwork also presented at the Expo 67, Laila Pullinen’s copper bas-relief “Sun of the Fells” used to be one of the highlights of the old terminal building, opened in 1969 and can now be found in Terminal 2. According to Pullinen, the informalist artwork expresses the forces of nature, the sunset, as well as the rugged Lappish scenery with its shadowy slopes and snow blanket formed by the winds. This description also perfectly fits the new undulating plaza in front of the terminal.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects The plaza is like a counterpart to the ceiling of “City Hall”. The three-dimensional surface hides the deck-like structure of the plaza and the drop-off ramp. This surface connects the different levels and routes both visually and physically. Runoff is collected to a pool on the plaza that changes shape and size with the seasons. In the wintertime it even transforms to a skating rink. The steps outside the main entrance offer the passengers and optional route from one level to the other while also functioning as seating. The three dimensional design of the deck is also visible to those driving to and from short-term parking underneath. The design of the terminal expansion emphasizes the equality of the routes of the arriving and departing passengers. The lower level is used by arriving passengers, as well as by those coming to the terminal by bus, train, bike or foot and those coming from the parking facilities. This is why the identity of this level receives as much attention in the design as the departure hall. The large openings on the upper departure hall level visually link the two spaces.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects Finavia aims at both providing passengers with premium quality services and constantly improving the user experience. The four pillars on which the user experience stands are: smooth processes, a wide selection of services, unique architecture and friendly customer service. In the expansion, the straightforward routes and visual orientation points provide for clarity in the user experience. The blue “Security Box” and the air traffic control tower can be seen already from the main entrance. The overall design aids intuitive orientation. In addition to the terminal expansion, the competition area will also include plenty of other new construction. The new plaza in front of the terminal expansion and a new square by the secondary entrance of the train station will be the most important visual orientation points in the area. Taller buildings, pocket parks and bridges also function as orientation points. The availability of optional routes and sufficiency of orientation points result in the urbanity and walkability of the overall design.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects ABOUT THE COMPETITION The objective of the competition was to create a proposal for an iconic new main entrance for the airport by expanding Terminal 2. In addition to the expansion, the proposal was to include the renovation of the existing Terminal 2, an updated regional plan for the entire airport area and also a future ground transportation hub to better link the airport, already one of the largest bus and train interchanges in Finland, to different modes of transport. The aim of Finavia’s development program, which the expansion project is part of, is to strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport in both the international competition between airports and as a significant airline hub between Europe and Asia. The expansion will allow the airport to efficiently serve 20 million passengers annually by 2020. The primary goal of the project is to improve the service experience for the passangers arriving at or departing from the airport. The expansion will replace current parking facilities P1 and P2. The construction work will begin in fall 2018 at the earliest.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects ALA ARCHITECTS ALA Architects specializes in demanding cultural buildings, unique renovation projects, station design and master planning. The Helsinki–based firm was founded in 2005 by four partners: Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta and Samuli Woolston. Their collaboration started in 2004 through success in architectural competitions. The 1st prize in the open international competition for the new theater and concert hall, Kilden Performing Arts Centre, in Kristiansand, Norway, a year later granted them their first commission. ALA’s most recent completed projects are the new City Theatre in Lappeenranta, Finland, as well as the Aalto University and Keilaniemi metro stations and the renovation of the Dipoli Student Centre and its repurposing as the main building of Aalto University, all in Espoo, Finland. ALA currently is today run by Grönholm, Nousjoki and Woolston, and in addition to them employs 33 architects, interior designers, students and staff members, representing 11 nationalities. All the partners have more than 15 years of professional experience, mostly in designing large public buildings both in Finland and abroad. The partners have also taught advanced studios in public building design in Finland, as well as at two North-American universities; Columbia University and Washington University in St. Louis. In 2012 the ALA partners received the prestigious Finnish State Prize for Architecture. ALA’s current projects include the Helsinki Central Library, three more subway stations along the western extension of Helsinki Metro, and the renovations of the Finnish Embassies in New Delhi and Cairo.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects HKP ARCHITECTS HKP Architects is a Helsinki-based architectural office founded in 1968. In their work the vast project experience gained over the years is combined with up-to-date technologies and fresh ideas. The company, originally known as Hyvämäki Karhunen Parkkinen Architects, was founded by architects Eero Hyvämäki, Jukka Karhunen and Risto Parkkinen. In 2002 the name was changed to its current form and longtime employees Jukka Hyvämäki, Risto Ingman, Pekka Leskelä and Mikko Suvisto became the new principals. HKP currently employs 20 architects and other staff members. During the past 50 years HKP Architects has completed various demanding design tasks from office buildings to commercial centers, animal hospitals, cultural buildings and transportation hubs. Their best-known project is the Opera House in Helsinki, built in 1993 for the Finnish National Opera. In recent years HKP has worked on the large, multifaceted development projects combining services, public transportation and housing in Tapiola, Matinkylä and Kivenlahti neighborhoods in Espoo, Finland. The company has won over 30 prizes in architectural competitions in Finland and abroad. In 2003 the HKP partners received the Finnish State Prize for architecture.  Image Courtesy © ALA Architects & HKP Architects RAMBOLL FINLAND Ramboll is a leading international engineering, design and consultancy company with 13,000 experts worldwide. In Finland Ramboll employs 2,200 people throughout the country. The company offers their customers a comprehensive set of services related to infrastructure, water, environment, construction management, buildings, and management consulting. With the help of their experts and strong insight, Ramboll aims to create solutions that truly strengthen the whole society.
Contact ALA Architects
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
email
Facebook
Twitter
RSS Feed
