INBETWEEN, Tallin / crossing infrastructure

Tallinn challenge developsright here, in the places cut out from the urban life; where the separation took place the con­nection must be restored, in the weak spot of an expansion witch proves to be strategically important for the future euro­pean culture capital of 2011. (2009)

THE SITE, THE CITY

The development of Tallinn as what concerns the study area of Europan 10, has produced a very interesting urban shape, composed by well identifiable parts, whose are mediated by a vacuum space. But this solution of continuity between the parts is the reason of the present separation between city and waterfront. This situation is even worsened by the settlement of a in­frastructural system in a non suitable scale, witch has made this greenbelt (background upon witch the image of the old Tallinn was to be read) be a limit witch might represent the separation between the city and its sea port. Tallinn challenge developsright here, in the places cut out from the urban life; where the separation took place the con­nection must be restored, in the weak spot of an expansion witch proves to be strategically important for the future euro­pean culture capital of 2011.

WALKING AND CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOWDENSITY CITY

What is the point of connecting two part of a city? How can a connecting urban texture be set in an area over highly characterised by infrastructures? The project of linear public space turns out as an infrastruc­ture on a pedestrian and cycling scale. The infrastucture doesen’t generate continuity between two part of city, it fertilize the place and the city around it gives them life with its colonisation of space trough residence. The theme of the competition “creating urbanity, regenerat­ing, revitalising and colonising” melts with the specific topic of the inner public space, generating a lived infrastructure: a linear city on a low-density scale, crossed by the flowing of the by-passers and lived by those who work in the new cul­tural/administrative centre. Where there is a breakpoint resi­dence itself can solve it. The design of this small infrastructure borrows the geometry of the historical city, it generates an ambiguous relationship between paths and architecture and passes through the huge infrastructural hub, with spaces preserved from the cold winter climate, reaching the hotspots: the Linnhall, the Cultural Factory, the Harbour Terminal, the Fishmarket and the new admninistrative buildings. Revitalised central core, principal channel and beating heart of the city which in 2011 will be the European cultural capi­tal. The layout of this link turns into the flywheel for for the development of marginalised situations, which, in this small binding infrastructure experience the materialisation of the urban strategy.

design for EUROPAN 10 competition / designers Luigi Pintacuda (team leader), Claudio Cannizzaro, Chiara Carcione, Domenico Contino, Manfredi Mazziotta, Claudia Padula, Luisa Pastore, Marco Villanti.