Concept design to Kätilöopisto hospital in Helsinki, Spatial Design course (BA), Group work with Otto Kaipio, Elina Lantto and Maria Mielonen and the whole class, Spring 2019

Kättäri

Concept design for Kätilöopisto hospital.

The assignment

Design a new concept to the 11-floor B-wing of Helsinki Kätilöopisto hospital.

The whole building was designed together as a larger group effort with our class, but more specific spaces were designed in smaller groups. Our group got to design working spaces to 5th and 6th floor. The project was to be presented for evaluators from Tilajakamo.

The outcome

In our work we studied the surrounding areas of the building and wanted to do something for the local residents. We also realised that it would be important to have some “money makers” to ensure the maintenance of the building. And so, Kättäri, a “Vertical Village”, was born. 11 floors got multiple new functions: different working spaces, apartments, art functions, services etc.

Smaller group work: working spaces

In our smaller group, we approached working environments in two themes. Respecting the previous historic use of the building, we named the floors accordingly.

The 5th floor would be Synnyttämö (=giving birth), where people working in creative professions, such as arts and design, could ”give birth” to new ideas. The 6th floor got the name Heräämö (=waking up), which has more traditional working spaces. The floors are connected at the end of the corridor by a large opening. The area is a meeting place, which has a communal kitchen and a lounge. The idea was to help create connections between the creators and workers form other positions, such as business.