TRANSFORMATION OF THE JUNATIE TRAFFIC JUNCTION
Type Invited competition, 2019
Team ALA Architects and Sitowise
Role Responsible for urban space and landscape
Client City of Helsinki
Size 23,000 m2
Project start 2019
Status Completed
As Helsinki city centre is growing, there is a demand for developing the Junatie road area and improve the conditions for urban life and strengthen the connections between the bordering neighbourhoods. Our proposal is an extensive strategy to free space for urban life by optimizing the infrastructure, without losing the current capacity. We seek to change the traffic hierarchy, break down the harsh street spaces to suit the human scale. Our proposal support a diversification of the area, by utilizing the existing characters through materials, programming, furniture and lighting.
Today, the Junatie road area is a complex traffic situation with little room for urban life. The road stretch is the eastern entrance to Helsinki, where the elevated train and highway that turns into a tunnel creates a barrier between the bordering neighbourhoods. On both sides, the elevated/depressed infrastructure is accompanied by local roads, bike lanes and pedestrian routes, adding to the complexity and leaving a harsh hard paved urban environment and minimal space for urban life to thrive.
Changing the traffic hierarchy and making room for urban life
Step one is to clarify the widespread multi-levelled traffic situation without reducing the capacity.
Step two is to establish a more human scale in the long uninspiring street spaces, despite the heavy traffic it should be pleasant to sit down or take a stroll. By re-arranging and optimizing the infrastructure we make room for a greenification with extensive street plantings and additional pocket parks.
Step three is to strengthen the transverse connections. New tower buildings narrow the wide street space and together with new distinctive pavements highlight the pedestrian crossing.
Step four is to enhance the existing characters to create areas of a strong identity. Together with new area-specific materials, plantings and furniture, the towers form new landmarks for each area with active ground floors that add to an attractive urban environment.
MAXIMIZING STREET PLANTINGS TO SCALE DOWN THE STREET SPACE
NEW BUILDINGS REDUCE THE SCALE OF THE STREET AREA
IMPROVING THE PEDESTRIAN ROUTES BY BREAKING DOWN THE LONG ‘DEAD’ STRETCHES
STRENGTHEN IMPORTANT ROUTES BETWEEN URBAN SPACES
NEW AND STRENGTHENED CROSS-CONNECTION REDUCE THE BARRIER EFFECT
MAXIMIZE THE EXISTING GREEN POCKETS
