The Market Square: Past - Present - Future

What is the role of the Market Square today? How do tourists and locals perceive it? What type of a role does its history play when speculating the future of the market? This document is a glimpse to how these aspects: past, present and future stir emotions among the public. Information was gathered during at workshop conducted during the Helsinki Design Week.

Introduction

PAST

Whats been there? What has happened?

The market as its seen today evolved over a period of 200 years from an informal trading place to an important point of crossroads between visitors and tourists. The harbours for large cargo ships and for smaller archipelago passenger traffic were built in the surroundings of the market forming kauppatori into an important hub of transportation. In the 1970s big passenger ferries replaced the cargo functions and made Kauppatori a calmer place when it comes to ship traffic but increased the amount of arriving visitors. The Market Square has throughout its years remained a hub for transportation and an important place for people to gather, thus making it the most visited place in Finland.

Past - Workshop 1

The soul of the area

Not only has the market been in the eye of the harbour activity and acted as a gateway to the capital, but what truly gives it its standout character is its southern border. Whether the unique seaside location has been utilized to its fullest potential may be argued, but the location is surely its standout feature among similar sized markets. In the old days fishmongers would set up shop directly from their boats. The current Silakkamarkkinat festival echoes this tradition. The transformation of markets car park into a new stall area will mark a remarkable event in the markets history as visitors will be invited to inhabit the area in direct connection to its beautiful view.

Past

Evolution

Today, many disregard the food and products as lacking authenticity and quality through trade being mainly focused towards the stereotype tourist. This change has mainly happened throughout the past ten years. The market has and is currently experiencing a generation swap, where traditional trade families are discontinuing trade. This has possibly also been the leading force to the bric-a-brac stores evading more and more space among traditional stalls. Also, there has not been any selecting of sellers, but this could change in the near future according to a representative of Tukkutori. In the wake of the tourism strategy development and the new food tourism strategy, The Market Square is evidently an important crossroads.

Nostalgic

Nature NostalgicQuickSneak

Modern

Modern ModernProperMeal

Organized

Organized Flea Markets inside

Spontaneous

cafes Spontaneous Open Space

MARKETIDENTITY

MARKETCONTENT

SHOPS FOOD

Past - Present - Workshop 2

Present

Whats in there?

Mapping the colours of the existing buildings around the Market Square highlights the challenge in responding to the surroundings. Many of the buildings are protected and the colours will not be altered. The current colours of the Market Square contrast the colours of the surrounding infrastructure strikingly.

Whats in there?

The same applies to the branding of the Torikorttelit, Old Market Hall and the new area of the Skywheel and Allas. In both scenarios the Market Square is in the middle, forming a separate island. What is the Market Squares role in this situation. How can the Market Square answer or react to these existing and planned changes. Should it in fact work as a connector?

Present

The associations of colour

For some, the orange is considered the colour of Helsinki as it also colours the metroline. Many find it out of place while others mark it as part of the nostalgia which makes the market what it is. The orange colour was chosen in 1957 to match the colour of the awnings of the city hall.

In one of the workshops the public was asked to draw the colour or pattern they associate with the Market Square on a graph. Although the many shades of orange are featured, the many other colours highlight an existing diversity which is a feature to its visitors. Some of the important colours include the red of the strawberry, pattern of the cobblestone or the colour of the surrounding sea.

Present - Workshop 2

PRESENT

Present day

Who is involved?The many stakeholders of the Market Square include:

Tukkutori - market operationsHelsingin liikuntavirasto - mooringHSL - Suomenlinna ferryHelsingin taidemuseo - Public artHelsingin kiinteistvirasto - historical elementsHelsingin satama Oy - Land & water areasKorjaamo Group Oy - Skywheel Helsinki OyTorikauppiaat - KiosksKorkeasaaren elintarha - Zoo ticketingHelsingin kaupunginrakennusvirasto

WILD CARD

Present-Workshop3(fillintheblank)

Atmosphere Looking cheap should be improved Im sitting and Im dreaming Car parking is on the wrong side of the market The colour orange is awful for stalls and tents! Seagulls are inconvenient The #1 rule of the market is welcoming The #1 rule of the market is the image and brand of Helsinki Beauty surrounds the market Smell should be improved More/Other fun stuff surrounds the market square The market square is full of design If I could change something I would make the market square more lively and beautiful Its 10am and I feel like passing by really fast

Food I dream of more food variety I bought a strawberries Its 10am and I feel like having sushi You cant always find vegetarian food I want to eat hipster food I dream of beer in the market Two chocolates are better than one I dream of fish in the market The #1 rule of the market is to eat Sweets make me happy You cant always find cheap food Its 4am and I wish icecream and hot chocolate I bought a carrot You cant enjoy pulla without kahvi I bought a muikkulautanen Strawberries keeps me coming back for more Money cant buy happiness but it can buy chocolate Salmon soup surprised me You have to try reindeer

Present-Workshop3(fillintheblank)

Guggenheim The Guggenheim museum will be just another museum The Guggenheim Museum will be amazing The Guggenheim Museum will be cool

Tourists Tourists are rushing to the ferry Tourists are rushing to suommelina Tourists are rushing to the boats Tourists are rushing to the ship You have to try Tallinn I wish there was fewer

Others Seagulls are hunting for love I wish there was a hot Viking Its 10 am and I feel like $ 1.000.000 Im sitting and Im constipated There is nothing better than me Money cant buy happiness but it can buy things Happiness should be improved Its 4PM and I wish I was asleep I found a life long friend When I have kids I will bring them to France Seagulls surround the market square The market is full of shit Seagulls are hunting for a landmark You are on the wrong side of the market Its 4PM and I wish I could charge my phone Im sitting and Im tired If/ When I have kids I will bring them to Europe I found a man Its 4am and I wish Im home The #1 rule of the market is do not drop the coin on the ground You surprised me I found a purpose There is nothing better than me Money cant buy happiness but it can buy men Italy makes me happy There is nothing better than me and a man You cant always find what you want

General When I have kids I will bring them to Lintsi There is nothing better than friendship Im meeting my friend to go to a bar elsewhere Rain surprised me I wish there was more seats here If I could change something I would plant more trees Money cant buy happiness but it can buy time The market square is more than meets the need You cant enjoy the square without the market Seagulls are hunting for icecream The market square is more than meets the senses Im meeting my friends to silakkamarkkinat The market is full of potential If I could change something I would make it more relevant You have to try to make it prettier The market is full of tourists The orange colour is in The orange colour is bonito If I could change something, I would make it more hipster The view makes me happy. Im meeting my friends to chat I dream of butterflies in the market On the market I look for internet with my phone I bought a fur scarf

Future - Workshop 3

How much do you want to change The Market Square?

The workshop participants were asked to mark in the scale from Not at all to Yes, very much their opinions and ideas concerning the future of Market Square. The labels one would pin in the scale represented different categories depending on what the participant wanted to address. The results were analyzed in an infograph which highlights the emphasis on the requests for chance and in what category change is most desireable.

ArrangementNot so crowded with tentsMusic and film events, photograph and installationI want to change sellers stalls to wooden little cottages made of pineNice cafe terrace by the shoreMore lights at least when its darkSome bands, music. Make it attractiveIt should be inviting place for locals as well more than nowbetter looking stallsget rid of the orange tents

Goods and ServiceAirbnb for excursions guided by localsCarrying bags to the boatI would put chairs around, then you can enjoy sitting in the different viewsLess tourist stuff and market stalls. No furs!

FoodMore comfortable place to eatMouthwatering, finger dripping, deliciousness please.More fresh food, no more Muikku and Paella.

LanscapeNo car parking on waters edge.Flowers? Trees? Stimulate my senses!car free space

What to keepPigeonsKeep it casual, keep the feeling of a market placeKeep the cobblestones

BenchmarkingLike Marrakesh market place roof, walls etc. But still looks like market place.Go to Barcelona and see!

Future

AALTO UNIVERSITY2015 DESIGN DRIVEN FORESIGHT

SPECULATIONS/ OPPORTUNITIESUMBRELLA CONCEPT:DOCUMENTWORTHINESS

Future - Speculations/opportunities

Identifying opportunities/ speculations for approach

What if... the market was seen as a protagonist or a context rather than a viewing point? The background research aims to create an understanding of the character and the role of the Market Square in its present state and location but also in the near future. The opportunities identified were looked at from different perspectives and approached layer-by-layer creating a multifaceted understanding of the site.Presented in this document are three concepts, which could be applied in a bottom up manner to the market place. These concepts could pick up momentum and lead towards creating a new coherent and exciting character for this unique market. Not only is the Market Square located in the heart of the city, but also with the archipelago as its backdrop it is like no other trad- ing place of its kind. The three concepts are presented under an umbrella concept: Documentworthiness, a motivation of making the Market Square worth documenting and recording.

What it means: Through ways of intervening in the present situation the Market Square could be marked on the map as a place worth documenting. The market could be presented as an open invitation to to tell the story of the culture of the market. Docu- mentworthiness describes something that is stimulating and exiting. In the context of the market it would also mean a low barrier of picking up ones camera to be able to communicate: I was there or I was a part of... or look at me at...

What if... The Market Square was one of these places with iconic characteristics.

What if... the market invited one to document the activities,the characters and to write the story of this iconic place of the capital?

Future - Speculations/opportunities

DOCUMENTWORTHINESS:

Surprising established diversity Colour outside the lines Storytelling (word of mouth)

Colour outside the lines

Concept: Marketsquare has a lot of restrictions, how could we push the boundaries? Do more within the boundaries? How to make an impact by stepping over these boundaries?

What it means: Places are nothing without the people using them. People are what makes a place and its soul. Public places tend to have a lot of restrictions set by authorities, but what if the user tries to push the boundaries in the name of making it look how they want it, and for the place to represent their pur- poses. This would mean taking action in ones own hands, but still remaining within the boundaries of the law. History shows that this kind of action easily spreads to similar places and it starts to have a wider meaning in society.

Opportunities - Colour outside the lines

Colour outside the lines

What if... changing the activities would change the restrictions?

What if... stepping over a line would be seen as something good instead of bad?

What if... the market would go beyond the current expectations and restrictions?

For further reference #kalasatama Urban activism

Opportunities - Colour outside the lines

Storytelling (word of mouth)

concept: By spreading the word, telling the stories about the market, the brand could be more lively, people would find the place.

What it means: Especially in Helsinki, one discovers places, activities, events and unique locations by keeping their eyes and ears open. By hearing, or learning about a unique phenomena people are let in to the story of the city. By spreading the word, telling the stories about the market, the character and the repu- tation of the market would become more lively and desirable. Could this discourse arouse curiosity and invite people to visit the market themselves to experience and to add to the story.

For further reference:#kauppatori Pictures aiming away from the market#MercadodeSanMiguel People documenting their visit#talvipuutarha Parents & grandparents passing on stories

Storytelling#kauppatori

Speculations - Storytelling

Storytelling (word of mouth)

What if... the market itself tells a story about its heritage?

What if... the experience of going to the market would tell you a story through its products, services and infrastructure?

What if... this story was documented in a manner where one could become part of the story?

Speculations - Storytelling

Surprising established diversity

concept: 1) established; it`s known to be good and valued 2) surprising; it can still surprise, capture people with the unexpected 3) diversity; every service differentiates itself

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What it means: These three words create a concept, which addresses all many types of users and stakeholders related to the Market Square. The words shall not be separated, as the word combinations would then describe a different place than what is desired taking in notice all the users. The aim and goal is for the Market Square to be described with all three words and thus become a place that is something superior and extraordinary.

For further reference: #BrickLaneMarket Vibrant market life #HakaniemenMarketHall Established diversity

Opportunities - Surprising established diversity

Surprising established diversity

What if... this was the story, the documented experience, the ever-surprising phenomena, which captures the visitor no matter whether they may be locals or from far away.

What if... this culture would be alive and buzzing in this specific market?

An example of a possible future: The market is a part of a bigger whole. It can be seen as a central point and a connecting point of Helsinkis culture. The soul of Helsinki is alive and ever developing. This movement could be pinned down in words such as Neo-Scandinavian, New-Nordic, Neo-Funkkis as it is what is happening in the city and how the culture is evolving.

For further reference: #NeoScandinavian #Scandinavian#Scando #NeoFunkkis #NewNordic

Opportunities - Surprising established diversity

Ideas CompetitionKirjava Satama

Design Driven Foresight#Documentworthiness

Design Driven ForesightPast - Present - Future

Huttunen - Lipasti - Pakkanen Teema & Tavoitekartat