Comments on: Helsinki Waterfront Hotel by Herzog & de Meuron

By: Pekka

Pekka — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:46:16 +0000

The head of the Helsinki city planning committee Tuomas Rajajärvi had a 3d-model made. He tries to prove to us, with this model of blank elements, that the building would not be so awful, that it is not too big and it still suits the landscape, and so on.

And again, this pathetic model http://www.ksv.hel.fi/katajanokka3d/ misses the central point. It still censures a crucial view from decision makers and from citizens as it does not show the real view from the sea and from the direction of the famous 18th century sea bastion island Suomenlinna in front of Helsinki. It’s obvious this building would destroy the national heritage landscape of this white empire city opening from the sea with beautiful profile and unique empire city blocks.

Herzog and de Meuron, back off, please! I guess you don’t really want a reputation for ruining unique national heritages in EU with your buildings. I think almost every architect and city planner in Finland is against this project. This isn’t just normal spirit of opposition against “new things”, we have plenty of unprejudiced examples. There just are too many objective reasons against this project. As a Finnish citizen I am really ashamed of this alliance between international hotel business city bureaucracy and global architectural firm which seems to skip all the views of aesthetic professionals, international and Finnish ones.

By: samu

samu — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:02:01 +0000

This seems to be big joke from Herzog&de Meuron. It does not communicate with the city or culture, they are just willing to show that they are so big stars that they can assembly swiss flag to the one of the best places in Helsinki. But that will not happen, we would be happy to see H&M in Helsinki but they need to work litle bit more for that.

By: Raasteri

Raasteri — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:22:14 +0000

It seems to be just a big glass box, I mean a big glass Swiss cross just in middle of the most historical Empire center of Helsinki, one of the national heritage landscapes in Finland. Hmh. As a building, it is not so bad, but the location is totally unsuitable. 1 km north, for example, would be just a good place for this.

By: Pekka

Pekka — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:46:02 +0000

I’ve heard the architect didn’t even visit Helsinki before the plan was published. The scenes on this page don’t show the view from the sea and from the direction of the famous 18 century sea bastion island Suomenlinna in front of Helsinki. It’s obvious this building would distroy the national heritage landscape of this white empire city opening from the sea with beautiful profile and unique empire city blocks. The plan is simply too dominant, it’s in a wrong place!

By: Pasi

Pasi — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:18:12 +0000

..suppose a cross is as good form as any to slap in, but the spaces in the triangular courtyards are probably going to be drab and uninhabitable.
Shade, snow and the rest.. Hopefully the night club will be decent..

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:26:25 +0000

It’s two floors too high, otherwise, fantastic.

By: pop

pop — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:52:24 +0000

it just looks like a big block from ground level, you dont appreciate the cross at all unless you’re flying

By: Элитный отдых

Элитный отдых — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:48:13 +0000

I have never seen things like in.

By: Fred

Fred — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:20:14 +0000

yet another example of architects focusing 100% on designing a building and forgetting the spaces surrounding it. 30 years from now it will be seen as a big beast from an era of architectural experiments. has that possibly happened before…

By: Danny

Danny — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:25:58 +0000

imposing and totally insensitive to it’s context. Recreational Architecture should make a contribution to public space. it screams corporate.