Case Study Tartu 2
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| Name | ECOBAY: New Sustainable City for Estonia | |
| Location | Tallin | |
| Country | Estonia | |
| Office | Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, Landscape architects: Møller & Grønborg | |
| Client | Ecobay OÜ | |
| Completion | Not mentioned. Project submitted for outline planning approval | |
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Core Question 1: In how far does this project reveal your concept of future landscapes?
Cities are groving more rapidly, people are producing more waste, nature suffers. That is why architects, landscape architects, developers, engineers, scientists have to think about future benefits not only for people but also for nature. Future landscape is is sustainable, energy saving, comfortable, nature friendly and "green" in all aspects.
Landscape and/or urban context
- Biogeography, cultural features, overall character, history and dynamics
Ecobay is a masterplan for a sustainable urban area located in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The project area is 481,000 m² site area and 318,000 m² floor area. The site consists of raised sea-bed and landfill. Not far from there is Natura 2000 nature reserve on the Paljassaare Peninsula on the Baltic Sea. In year 2008, Schmidt Sammer Lassen Lrchitects won a 1st prize in invited competition. The masterplan will be realised in 15–20 years’ time. The masterplan will provide a range of different building typologies, creating a new district with housing, local shops, nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, commercial development and green recreation areas.
Cultural/social/political context
- Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework
Government in Estonia and local city governemts makes their policies more related to sustainable, nature friendly development. Also EU legislation gives more guidlines and restrictions about planning and construction process, greenery, nature preservation etc. More and more money is being invested in "green" projects and public education about "green thinking".
The green agenda of Ecobay project supplements and supports the town plan’s traditional guidelines with a number of new "green" ideas. One of them would be expansion of public transport with electric-powered busses and trams or light railways. Planners had negotiated about it with the city authorities in Tallinn.
"Ecobay will be a benchmark project for sustainable urban development of the future and will exceed the current stringent EU legislative requirements." /Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects/
Spatial analysis of area/project/plan
- What are the main structural features?
On one side the project area borders the Baltic Sea, On the other side is Tallin city residental complexes. The sea water gives the main shape and main character to the landscape as well as wind and local vegetation. The planners have been taken all theese feature in account during planning process.
- How has it been shaped? Were there any critical decisions?
The master plan is organic in shape, with soft, flowing lines. Instead of adopting a rigid grid, the scheme introduces a system of dunes spreading across the entire site. It is rational because both orientation and massing will respond to the seasonal trajectory of the sun and prevailing wind direction. Planners have combined the function of the city like business and housing districts with natural relief and other local characteristic features.
Analysis of program/function
- What are the main functional characteristics?
The Ecobay is envisaged as a new, independent and sustainable, mixed-usage district with business, residental, leasure functions. The project aims to utilise sources of alternative energy, energy-aware building methods and an appropriate green strategy for infrastructure development. The green strategy includes:
1 energy
2 water
3 ecology
4 soil and landscape
5 infrastructure
6 microclimate
7 waste
- How have they been expressed or incorporated?
1 Heating supply from excess heat derived from sewage water; sea water for cooling for office buildings; electricity for street lighting generated by wind turbines.
2 Building design with grey water systems; filtratin of storm water; the cleaned sewage water from waste water treatment works for irrigation of all public grenery.
3 An extensive landscaping and planting programme; biodiversity corridors connecting green areas and the existing Natura 2000 nature reserve, will establish a new ecosystem on what is currently a brown field site.
Soil and Landscape All ground contamination will be cleaned and remediated in the process of establishing the Ecobay Development.
Infrastructure The masterplan will adopt a green strategy for all infrastructure development. In an effort to minimise private transport, the expansion of public transport with electric busses and trams is being negotiated with the city authorities in Tallinn; all public amenities will be located within a ten minute walk from all homes.
Microclimate The masterplan’s morphed grid and dune structure will significantly reduce wind speeds along the exposed coastal edge, with all buildings shaped to absorb high wind speeds in order to avoid turbulence. An extensive planting programme of suitably hardy trees and bushes will create additional shelter for areas of public realm.
Waste Automated and centralised waste collection and recycling systems will be installed, and in addition, individual building clusters will be designed with integral, separated refuse chutes to accommodate differing waste typologies.
Analysis of design/planning process
- How was the area/project/plan formulated and implemented?
- Were there any important consultations/collaborations?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Analysis of use/users
- How is the area/project/plan used and by whom?
- Is the use changing? Are there any issues?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Core Question 2: What is the role of landscape architecture in this project?
You may add 1-2 more core questions as discussed in your group
Image Gallery
by schmidt hammer lassen architects, http://shl.dk
References
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/07/17/schmidt-hammer-lass-architects-ecobay/
http://shl.dk/eng/#/home/urbanisme/ecobay-masterplan
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