Otaniemi IT Campus

Winning the Invitational Competition

L Architects’ proposal “Superpositio” has won the invitational competition organized by Senate Properties real estate developers and Aalto university real estate agency. The competition covered the area occupied by the Biology and Marine Engineering Technology complex located in the center of Otaniemi, Espoo. The goal was to ”solve the overall urban structural idea of ​​the area and create the starting points for further planning”.

Superposition

Our world rarely offers us surprises. Each day follows another; the sun rises and sets. The world is predictable. The determinism of common sense fits well in this world. However, if you look close enough, the situation is quite different.

In quantum mechanics, the position and velocity of a particle cannot be known or measured simultaneously. Likewise, unlike in classical physics, a system can be in two different quantum states at the same time, existing in a state of so called superposition. According to the prevailing understanding, this state comes into being when the target is observed or measured. Our reality, on a small scale, is made up of nothing but probabilities and possibilities. Parts of our world that we still don’t fully understand. The superposition presents a vision where one alternative system is realised inside one field governed by traditional rules and where each pixel has found its measured state. The result is one possibility out of many possible worlds to realise the randomness that is our everyday life and work.

“Field and System”

Our world rarely offers us surprises. Each day follows another; the sun rises and sets. The world is predictable. The determinism of common sense fits well in this world. However, if you look close enough, the situation is quite different.

In quantum mechanics, the position and velocity of a particle cannot be known or measured simultaneously. Likewise, unlike in classical physics, a system can be in two different quantum states at the same time, existing in a state of so called superposition. According to the prevailing understanding, this state comes into being when the target is observed or measured. Our reality, on a small scale, is made up of nothing but probabilities and possibilities. Parts of our world that we still don’t fully understand.

The superposition presents a vision where one alternative system is realised inside one field governed by traditional rules and where each pixel has found its measured state. The result is one possibility out of many possible worlds to realise the randomness that is our everyday life and work.

Typologies

The parts of the system can be returned to the repetitive basic dimension of the field. The buildings form interlocking entities, too. IT blocks I and II are built from the basic building block unit of “doing work”, which can be multiplied to create larger entities. By oversimplification, we get surprisingly multidimensional urban spaces. On the other hand, we also get repetitive, replicable, combinable and endlessly multi-purpose research spaces for hundreds of years to come. Housing repeats the same thought. Intertwining spaces, variations and views. Through simplicity, we get endlessly rich and fluid city space and environment.

Urban space and business

There is no city space to speak of in Otaniemi. The buildings are far removed from the roads or footpaths. The buildings are also rather closed to pedestrians and not accessible from the street level.

In the superposition, all the spaces exist for everyone and all the time and are intertwined with each other, forming a space that is accessible from the “field” that is the public urban space. The “field” is neither a street nor a market, but a continuous user zone in the recesses of the buildings. The traffic comes from outside and the contact of car traffic with the structure is minimised.

Traffic and parking solutions

The alignment of the main road has remained unchanged in the design. Tietotie Road will be developed to be more boulevard-like, especially for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Otherwise, the plan relies entirely on the traffic solutions of the environment itself and the competition rules. Vehicular traffic in the competition area is kept at minimum.

Parking in the Marine Engineering Technology area is located in a separate parking garage. On the other hand, parking for the Biology area is located in an underground parking cave in accordance with the competition rules. Daycare parental escort services and Tietokortteli II services are managed via Maarintie Road. Tietokortteli I and Väre will use the same road in the future for their maintenance traffic. Business parking has been added and made possible along the streets and in suitable niches.

Moving the car traffic network to the outside of the block and minimising it within enables natural walking and cycling connections within the area and connections to the surrounding network. The main focus of the competition proposal is to create an accessible and comfortable urban space in the very centre of the area. The superposition forms a clear, walkable small town in Otaniemi.

Nature Values ​​and Blue/Green Structure

The Blue/Green Structure is based on the precious hardwoods, nut bushes hedges and water stream environments that remain on the southern, western and northern edges of the area and complemented by the historic linden tree alley. This canopy network formed by natural environments and old trees acts both as an important flying squirrel habitat connection and as a recreational route that brings serenity to the residential environments and supports the relationship with nature. The placement of the buildings has taken into account the preservation of valuable natural environments and the flying-squirrel habitat.

The natural environments that need to be protected balance the microclimate of the area that is being built gradually, and act as a flood route protecting the area at its northern end. Old trees emphasise Otaniemi’s habitat layers that were created over time.

Preserved natural environments are naturally connected to the versatile Blue-Green structure created by courtyards, parks and squares.

The Forest Garden, with its noble deciduous trees, shady conifers, small ponds and alpine roses, supports the flying squirrel habitat within  residential environments. Merenranta, which reflects the maritime Otaniemi, brings the wind-bent pines on top of rocks and lush, shady nooks and crannies into the urban environment. Complemented by fruit trees, allotment cultivation, flowering meadows and small greenhouses, the Apple Orchard brings alive the spirit of manor environments of the past.

Stormwater from the urban environment is channeled through the chain of stormwater solutions throughout the area, helped along by the natural topography. Stormwater management relies mainly on above-ground structures so that rainwater can enliven hard-surfaced urban environments. Delaying and utilising stormwater is essential to prevent flooding problems in the future, but also to preserve Otaniemi’s image as a forest campus. Thanks to the stormwater, both preserved and newly planted trees get enough water for their root systems and are thriving.

In the yards, stormwater is collected in small depressions lined with vegetation and stones. In the public walking environment, stormwater structures are seat-edged, embedded or stair-flowing waterfalls that create natural places to hang out and enjoy the nature. Stormwater is led to Hulepuisto located on the northern edge of the area and further down along Maarintie Road in the direction of Laajalahti.

”Superpositio”

Location: Otaniemi, Espoo

Size: 97,500 km²

Completed: 2022 ->

The competition group included Nomaji landscape architects Oy and WSP Finland Oy.

Visualizations provided by Oladesign Oy.

Mosaiikkikorttelin kilpailu

1. sija Vuosaari, Helsinki / 2021

Junatie

1. sija Sörnäinen, Helsinki / 2019

Vähähiilinen viherkortteli

Verkkosaari, Helsinki / 2021