Waterfront Hotel Approved

According to HS the proposed waterfront hotel by Herzog and DeMeuron has been approved and it’s almost all over for the objectors. The mayor stated that it was nice to get a major building financed by private money, and I guess they thought that the project would inject some life into the whole harbour regeneration which is needed. I’m sure this will remain the most controversial building project in Finland for many years whatever happens next. (HS article) (previously)

Filed under: Architecture, Asides

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Comments

  1. emmdee says:

    In a way I’m quite surprised considering what people have told me about the general sanctity of the city masterplan… having seen the proposals I’m not totally convinced this the the right solution for the site – the grid twist is obvious and maybe gives too much emphasis to what is only a hotel after all, as does the cross plan making it very much an ‘object’ building in the context – and the ‘onion’ church already does this trick, so is it needed again? Also the (admittedly sketchy) proposals for the facade look like they might ‘refer’ to/compete with the Aalto ‘sugarcube’ – I would expect H&M to be a bit more original … maybe client wants it that way?

    Don’t get me wrong I generally like H&M’s work, and hope it turns out to be jewel on Helsinki’s waterfront, but I wonder if it needs to fight so hard to be ‘different’ for the sake of it? If the recession doesn’t kill it off that is…

  2. lewism says:

    @emmdee,
    I think the city saw that they could get a world class architect with a controversial design (even better) and not have to pay anything themselves. If this Norwegian investor has the cash then the city has gone for the scheme over any reservations it has for the design. I’m pretty ambivalent about the scheme and a little disappointed about it in its current guise, I wish it was either more polite to it’s neighbours or alot less!
    I guess we are all biting our lips to see how it goes.

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# Anonymous says:

Posted on May 17th, 2012, 14:39