In the event, the students presented their own visions of a new residential area, which will be built on the side of the Nummela station of Länsirata train track. The audience included the board of directors, zoning planners, and land use professionals of the Municipality of Vihti.
The event was started by the coordinator of Urbaria, Jussi Jännes, and the Professor of Urban Geography Mari Vaattovaara shed light on the theoretical background of the student projects. After that, the students got to present their visions.
Every student group came with their own perspectives, but certain themes repeated. The students emphatized the originality of the area, communality, and functional merging into nearby areas. Inspiration came from both Finland and abroad, and the center of the area was envisioned to be, for example, a large park or a school. Additionally, third places, events, interesting intermediate spaces, and accessible nature and exercise possibilities recurred in the plans. The buildings could be diverse, village-like and utilize, for example, the natural elevation differences in the area. Human scale was emphasized as important in all planning, as well as perceived safety.
The presentations received excellent feedback. They raised discussion about the usage of services, especially with the demographic change, communality, and the long-term scale of planning within the constantly changing politics.
We thank the students for their valuable and skillful visions and the Municipality of Vihti and the mayor Erkki Eerola for the opportunity for this concrete course project. We will stay excited for further collaborations!