Herzog and DeMeurons’ proposed Waterfront Hotel on Katajanokka will be opposed it seems tooth and nail by the Finnish Architectural Establishment. Last Thursday a Revised Scheme was handed in to the City Plannning Authority , while a couple of hours earlier a petition from 34 Architetcure and Planning Professors lead by Juha Leiviskä oppposing the scheme was handed in.

I’m not really surprised by this opposition, since I first posted about this project it seems to be that the tide of professional opinion in Finland has turned almost totally against it, and while I think the cladding design is innovative and potentially world class the planning of the building into the public waterfront space appears missing among other concerns, in what is the most controversial building plot in the whole of Finland.