Einladungswettbewerb | 02/2017
New Beacon of Helsinki | Hotel Hakaniemi Competition
90723
Teilnahme
Architektur
Beurteilung durch das Preisgericht
RELATION TO THE SITE
The idea of the proposal “90723” is to function as a urban meeting point of the Central Park and the sea. This is not seen as a fully convincing starting point since the Central Park does not extend to the Hakaniemi Square. The design derived from this inaccurate analysis leaves the proposal’s volume and height without a proper explanation.
The wider plaza-like area on the west side of the hotel is a good gesture to connect the Hakaniemi square to the waterfront. On the other hand the path on the southern side between the hotel and the waterfront is too narrow. The wider slope leads to the upper level which seems to function as an area for service and pick-up and drop-off traffic. This raises concerns of the continuity of the pedestrian area to the upper level.
The hotel building is placed between the Hakaniemi square and the waterfront so that the open views are partly blocked. This weakens the area’s visual connection to the sea. The strength of the proposal is its height, which makes the build - ing stand out clearly from the other buildings at the Hakaniemi area. The volume of the hotel room floors is light, which is why the proposal is elegant.
ARCHITECTURE
The building consist of two parts: the ground floor which connects the hotel to the surrounding city and the volume of hotel rooms. The latter splits into two units of which the southern one rises to the hight of the Merihaka tower. The total gross floor area of the proposal is 14 500 m 2 and the eaves height of the building is +65 meters. The proposed composition has good redevelopment opportunities. The courageous height makes this proposal a landmark through its form. The idea for the facade, based on varied glass types, has similarities with the surrounding buildings around Hakaniemi market place. Also copper as a material choice has resemblance to buildings close to proposed hotel which relates the building to the Hakaniemi area quite well. Although the idea of varied facade pattern is justifiable it was thought to be rather conventional and toneless in hotel typology.
FUNCTIONALITY
The floorplans of the proposal are carefully studied and seem to work well. The first floor arrangement is functional: the lobby and the bar are opening naturally towards south- west. However, it leaves the restaurant furthest away from the Hakaniemenranta street. The service traffic area is placed inconveniently in the south-east corner of the building and the pick-up and drop-off traffic area is placed on an isolated square. The public spaces towards the waterfront are pre - sented with abundant vegetation. Footprint of the hotel room floor volumes is small, which gives a clear directionality to the building. The corridors of hotel room levels are short and the views from the rooms are exceptionally fine. There are 354 rooms in the hotel building, which makes the proposal the most efficient one in the com - petition. The bar and spa are situated in the topmost floors (16th and 17th).
The idea of the proposal “90723” is to function as a urban meeting point of the Central Park and the sea. This is not seen as a fully convincing starting point since the Central Park does not extend to the Hakaniemi Square. The design derived from this inaccurate analysis leaves the proposal’s volume and height without a proper explanation.
The wider plaza-like area on the west side of the hotel is a good gesture to connect the Hakaniemi square to the waterfront. On the other hand the path on the southern side between the hotel and the waterfront is too narrow. The wider slope leads to the upper level which seems to function as an area for service and pick-up and drop-off traffic. This raises concerns of the continuity of the pedestrian area to the upper level.
The hotel building is placed between the Hakaniemi square and the waterfront so that the open views are partly blocked. This weakens the area’s visual connection to the sea. The strength of the proposal is its height, which makes the build - ing stand out clearly from the other buildings at the Hakaniemi area. The volume of the hotel room floors is light, which is why the proposal is elegant.
ARCHITECTURE
The building consist of two parts: the ground floor which connects the hotel to the surrounding city and the volume of hotel rooms. The latter splits into two units of which the southern one rises to the hight of the Merihaka tower. The total gross floor area of the proposal is 14 500 m 2 and the eaves height of the building is +65 meters. The proposed composition has good redevelopment opportunities. The courageous height makes this proposal a landmark through its form. The idea for the facade, based on varied glass types, has similarities with the surrounding buildings around Hakaniemi market place. Also copper as a material choice has resemblance to buildings close to proposed hotel which relates the building to the Hakaniemi area quite well. Although the idea of varied facade pattern is justifiable it was thought to be rather conventional and toneless in hotel typology.
FUNCTIONALITY
The floorplans of the proposal are carefully studied and seem to work well. The first floor arrangement is functional: the lobby and the bar are opening naturally towards south- west. However, it leaves the restaurant furthest away from the Hakaniemenranta street. The service traffic area is placed inconveniently in the south-east corner of the building and the pick-up and drop-off traffic area is placed on an isolated square. The public spaces towards the waterfront are pre - sented with abundant vegetation. Footprint of the hotel room floor volumes is small, which gives a clear directionality to the building. The corridors of hotel room levels are short and the views from the rooms are exceptionally fine. There are 354 rooms in the hotel building, which makes the proposal the most efficient one in the com - petition. The bar and spa are situated in the topmost floors (16th and 17th).