Anttila farm incubator

WINNER – Anttila Farm Incubator

Joana Gil Ribeiro (PT), architect
Rui Cunha (PT), architect
Collaborator:
Carolina Gil Ribeiro (PT), urban planner

Jury evaluation:

The land use plan for Anttila Farm Incubator is based on densely built clusters of buildings that are located on the inside and outside of two mirroring crescents. The buildings located on the outer edge of these crescents are envisaged with their own adjoining allotment gardens, while those on the inside are designed with greenhouses or just as standard residential homes. The Jury felt that the spatial designs could have been developed further to create a shared outdoor area. This would have had the added benefit of drawing a clearer distinction with the surrounding agricultural land. The proposals in terms of both land use and construction are efficient. Due to the way the proposals have been presented, it is not entirely clear how the area, as envisaged in the submission, fits with the surrounding landscape. The plans for the street network do not reflect the area’s characteristic features and some of the routes come across as forced and unnatural. The centralised parking provision is too prominently located and should be distributed throughout the area. The most important public space has been replaced with a landmark building that prominently weaves together the functions and themes of the area. This solution succeeds in lending a strong identity for the area as a whole.

The idea could be developed further without the new-build, in conjunction with the Kettunen Centre or old cowshed for example. The proposal provides a universal structural framework for the residential buildings and greenhouses, which can be used as the basis for designing a range of different residential and energy solutions. The central building and the framework lend a distinct sense of character and look for the area that is an ideal fit with the area’s rural character. Existing buildings have been integrated into the block layout, which is one way of retaining them. Ultimately, the proposal’s strength lies in the way the team have approached the key competition theme of productivity, and used it to guide their land use and architectural decision-making.

The proposal takes a broad-based approach to innovations in the areas of food and energy production and even incorporates them into the area’s resource-based and circular economy. In contrast with many of the other proposals submitted as part of the competition, Anttila Farm Incubator succeeds in integrating the spatial allocations, buildings and structures necessary for the circular economy at individual block level. These solutions will form a visible part of the area’s image. No attempts will be made to disguise the reality of economic activity or to separate it visually from residential areas.

Although the waterfront jetty appears overly large in scale, it is also aligned with the design brief’s stated aim of incorporating production and leisure activities. The inner crescents unites the blocks and connects the waterfront as an active part of the wider land use solution, improving accessibility. The approach taken by the submission with regard to its treatment of local services and construction is bold and even unusual by Finnish land use and planning standards, but Anttila’s history alone positively invites this.

Description:

Anttila Farm Incubator is an innovative farming community, where agricultural pilot projects take place and are supported by a diversity of infrastructures, services, residences and research. The Anttila Farmer Incubator combines the regeneration of the agricultural heritage with the research and development of new agricultural techniques and products, to promote a more sustainable and environmentally respectful community.