Eesti

Living and working in a twin city

Sampsa Palva, Heikki Riitahuhta (Studio Puisto) + Yoko Alender + Raul Kalvo

It is stated that over four million people live within a 200-km radius of both Helsinki and Tallinn. The passenger flow has increased to approximately eight million passengers annually, increasing by two percent a year. The number of passenger cars has increased to over a million (2013), growing by 10 percent a year. 1An EAS (Enterprise Estonia) study shows that Finns who have moved to live in Tallinn think they have integrated well and 39% of them think they have friends amongst locals. Over half has seen an increase in their income over the one they earned in their homeland; one third says it’s smaller. Purchasing power is better in Estonia for 74% of Finns. Fifty-nine percent of Finns living in Estonia would recommend it to their friends back home. Only 2% wouldn’t recommend moving to Estonia2.

How would commuting asymmetry influence the cities?

The monetary flow of tourism is approximately three times larger from Helsinki-Uusimaa to Tallinn-Harju than in the other direction, in spite of the fact that, relative to population and purchasing power, the flows are quite balanced. Another asymmetry is connected with cross-region work, where the labour flow from Tallinn-Harju to Helsinki-Uusimaa is significantly larger than in the other direction.3

How would the fixed link influence working and living in Tallinn and its urban space? What if high numbers of people moved to Tallinn? Where would they relocate? What would be the housing typologies that would correspond to both Finnish and Estonian tastes and standards?

The team of Yoko Alender, Raul Kalvo and Studio Puisto proposed answers to the questions of what neighbourhoods the additional residents moving to Tallinn will live in and what kind of living environment is best in line with the tastes and standards of Talsinki residents. As they saw it, twin city inhabitants would value areas well-served by public transport, places where university students, specialists and retirees alike could choose the apartment or room appropriate to their needs. The team examined ways of increasing the city’s attractiveness and number of transport users beyond the 25,000 commuters.

Our aim was to study the people and lifestyles that could/would be living in Talsinki. We tried to briefly analyse how the two nationalities feel about each other at present, how much they commute and what they think about living in the other city.

The fact seemed to be that we need more co-operation and the driver for this idea is building on differences. If Helsinki means traditions and stability, then Tallinn means innovation and no bureaucracy.

“Tallinn and Helsinki complement each other. Helsinki feels more ‘ready’, finished and somewhat stagnant. Its urban centre recalls a truly European city, not to speak of its natural versatility. Tallinn, on the other hand, even if smaller and more provincial, has a more robust, lively and sometimes even dangerous urban life. Tallinn’s cultural scene feels fresher and less established. Helsinki provides stability while Tallinn inspires with its freshness and lively urban life. Helsinki is expensive and has a very good public transportation system, while in Tallinn – if one’s lucky – it’s even possible to live in the city centre with a mere mid-level income.”

“In Helsinki we have beenliving in the same private house for 40 years. In Tallinn I would like to experiment.”

We identified four typologies of people to concentrate on: students, seniors, entrepreneurs and families.

Then we interviewed real people belonging to these groups to find out how they feel about a future in the twin city.

We designed some possible living typologies for the four categories.

Based on the discussions and interviews, we decided to also work with the city fabric. We concentrated on the Tallinn side of the bay and investigated how Tallinn needs to develop to accommodate the added citizens. We measured gravity, i.e. how much square metre living space is built around existing public transport lines.

We proposed new connections and collective traffic lines. Our conclusion was that, when coming to a point where 25000 people commute daily, Tallinn could also double how much it builds.

Today it is 90000m2 /year. It’s important to note that densification needs to happen where there is infrastructure, not in new suburban areas with no alternative mobility solutions than the private car.

The planned tunnel is not for cars but for pedestrians. This means TALSINKI as well as the Tallinn side has to change its focus from car traffic to good public transport and being a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city.

Tallinn needs densification, new connections and a liveable urban environment. Then it can really get the best out of Talsinki.

How many commuters are needed to realize Talsinki?

Talsinki is close to happening today with 14,000 commuters. Is 25,000 people commuting per day enough or should we aim for 50,000 to be a real twin city?

How many commuters are needed to realize Talsinki?

Talsinki is close to happening today with 14,000 commuters. Is 25,000 people commuting per day enough or should we aim for 50,000 to be a real twin city?

Reason to move – joint venture

Tallinn and Helsinki complement each other – while Helsinki feels more ‘ready’, finished and even stagnant, its urban centre recalls a truly European city, not to speak of its natural versatility. Tallinn, on the other hand, even if it is smaller and more provincial, has got a more robust, lively and sometimes even dangerous urban life. Tallinn’s cultural scene feels more fresh and less established. Helsinki provides stability while Tallinn inspires with its freshness and lively urban life. Helsinki is expensive and has a very good public transportation system, while in Tallinn – if you’re lucky – it’s even possible to live in the city centre with a mere mid-level income.

Present gravity to Helsinki

Based on discussions and interviews, we also decided to work with the city fabric. We concentrated on the Tallinn side of the bay and investigated how Tallinn needs to develop to accommodate added citizens.  We measured gravity, i.e. how much m2 living space is built around existing public transport lines.

Number of houses within walking distance from stations

Living area, in square meters, within walking distance from stations

Tallinn needs densification, urban mobility, quality public space, new connections

The planned tunnel is not for cars but for pedestrians. This means TALSINKI, including the Tallinn side, has to change focus from car traffic to good public transport and become a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city. Tallinn need densification, new connections and a liveable urban environment. Then it can really get the best out of Talsinki.

Make the right mix > quality public space

New connections + densification > new gravity in Talsinki

We proposed new connections and collective traffic lines and came to the conclusion that when coming to a point where 25,000 people commute daily, Tallinn could also double how much it builds. Today this value is 9,0000m2 /year. It is important to note that densification needs to happen where there is infrastructure, not a in new suburban areas with no alternative solutions for mobility than the private car.

Meet the people of Talsinki

Furthermore, we identified four typologies of people to concentrate on: students, seniors, entrepreneurs and families. We interviewed real people belonging to these groups to find out how they feel about a future in the twin city. We designed some possible living typologies for all the types.

Alexandra

Henri

Marjo

Carl

From private spaces towards shared spaces

Living in two cities will probably mean less space for most of us. When we share our accommodation wisely, we can afford to live comfortably and in a flexible way.

Business professionals

The merging of housing and office.

Seniors

It’s nice to have peace and quiet easily meet likely minded seniors in the common spaces. In Kopli and other similar areas you can also be closer to the nature.

Student

As a student you don’t spend so much time home and the budget is limited. Shared space provide a network and a place to get acquainted with the other students. Life time friendships are made as a student.

Working professionals

Make your life luxurious by squeezing what you can out of the space: for example, an extra-nice sauna or a place to work on your hobbies.

Active professionals’ oasis

Offices are empty in the evenings and accommodation during the day. To make each of them more attracting maybe the functions can overlap in the future.

Uus Kopli