Swiss duo’s icy hotel scheme goes on ice

It’s snowy and icy in Helsinki this winter. Four seasons, four reasons used to be the Finnish tourist board’s main slogan about the country, but in recent years winter got rather shortened and washed out. Maybe that’s why the city fathers thought fit to push through the designer hotel scheme by architects Herzog and de Meuron (followed closely on this blog earlier) despite the massive criticisms, just so that the icy hotel’s visual impact would remind Helsinkians that this was once a city of guaranteed ice for at least a few months a year.

Here, a small reminder of what it was to look like… and there are more icy images still on the city’s website.

If winter has tended to be washed out in recent years, this year is certainly snowy and icy. And there was more snow fall this morning.

Another thing that happened this morning was that YLE broadcast the FABULOUS news that the city is finally convinced – through the continuing avalanche of reasoned as well as irate critique – that the harbour area where the hotel was due to be plonked is too valuable, nationally and internationally, in terms that cannot presumably be reduced to a monetary value, to be sacrificed to thoughtless development. A study of the whole area as a cultural historical area is to be commissioned. Spearheading the critique have been local amenity organisations Helsinki Seura and Katajanokka Seura who petitioned and made use of facebook – once again – to make their voice heard. Though on this one, it must be said that even oldies who care nought for facebook and don’t know how to use the internet, have been voicing their disgust in print and, er, in voice for months.

One of the Helsinki mayors, Hannu Penttilä, is interviewed in a clip on YLE. He mentions that an architecture competition for the entire harbour area is to be announced. He also admits that it’s a bit shameful that the research (mapping the cultural and historic values of the area, as they say) wasn’t done earlier.

Leaving us here at JHJ to muse on what passes for “evidence” in contemporary decision making. Pretty mysterious, it would seem, ditto the role of expert representations, all of which made it clear as clear can be (icy clear?) months ago already, that putting the hotel in this place was a BAD idea.

Meanwhile jobs for the (other) boys as excess ice needs to be cleared away …

The City DOES create the environment: skating is back!

Rarity creates newsworthiness. That might explain why Helsingin Sanomat recently reported something previously unremarkable.

First it reported that school kids ski, and today (26.2) it wrote that there is now skating on natural ice in Helsinki. Well, it might shock those with longish memories, but it’s a change from last year when it was necessary to pay for this fun (right). This year everyone is asking about where to rent or buy winter sports equipment. Sportti-divari the second-hand shop comes to mind.

So what happens/used to happen, to allow Helsinki residents indulge in this delightful pastime?

Well, if it’s on the sea, like it is here in Laajalahti seen from Munkkiniemi, you can create a long (2km) track, particularly designed for tour skating (special skates, but you can easily go on figure or ice-hockey skates too). Here it was in the process of being made.

If you’re talking skating on dry (as it were) land, first the pitch (English for kenttä, anyone?) gets smoothed over.

Then the chaps from the city, those guys who do actually produce the environment (viz. the last post) come with their hoses …

… and wait for nature to do its thing.

Then you go out and enjoy!