Herzog and DeMeurons’ hotel design for the centre of Helsinki has been rejected. Earlier this month on 3rd April the city council voted against the scheme and it looks like a study of the whole area will take place before another competition is announced. I’m not sure but I’m guessing that that this will probably mean the end for the whole of the current South Harbour scheme.

This would have been only the second time a foreign Architect would have built a major building in Finland and it’s a little disappointing if not inevitable that it won’t go ahead. Inevitable in that for several years already this has been the most controversial site in Finland and it seems no one can get a project off the ground there. This proposed Hotel was also drawing much critisism from Helsinki residents and professionals also, only the city planners seeming to back it.

I’m not sure the Herzog and DeMeuron project was best suited there either but I think the city could have looked at some alternatives, like locating it in the Jätkäsaari area instead. There a suitable place over the water could have been found for a brave design in terms of materials which could have added something to the often times too polite modernism of the last few years in Helsinki.

• Interview with Jacques Herzog.
• South Harbour scheme.
• Photo is by Herzog and DeMeuron click on it for full size