Developing the Seurasaarenselkä coastal route of Helsinki.

Autumn 2020
Team: Kaisla Rahkola & Eetu Lehmusvaara
My role was to lead our group and create a visual identity for the final concept.
The project was done in a 30-hour Design Sprint organised by Sitowise and the City of Helsinki as part of Helsinki Design Week.
Our concept was selected as the winner.
Brief
The competition brief was to design a better experience for the coastal route around the Seurasaari Bay in Helsinki. Nowadays the route is not clear and solid. Also, the different sides of this particular bay have very different characteristics.
Field observation
Three concepts

Route of Art
Inspired by the Didrichsen art museum located on the route. Possibility to collaborate with artists and citizens to make more inclusive art and city environment on the other side of the route (Lehtisaari and Kuusisaari) which is now quite a forgotten area.
Route of Love
Sound installation that connects the opposite sides of the bay. Several spots around the bay transmit sound to the opposite side
Route of Nature
Environmental hubs for citizens to investigate nature and communicate about the current state of the environment.
With the mentors’ guidance and interviewing citizens, we ended up choosing the concept of Route of Nature. It was seen as the most meaningful and it answered our design goals in the best way.
The final concept: Seurasaari Bay Expedition

This expedition consists of four functional environmental research and education stations. It aims to increase the understanding of environmental issues. The concept fits well with Seurasaari Bay due to its diverse environment and good connections from around the city.
Weather station
Meilahti
The weather station at Meilahti coast is targeted especially for smaller children (under 12) in bigger groups, such as school or kindergarten trips.


Tasks at the stations
Each station has static tasks that visitors can do in their own time. For this station I created an example task:

Organisms
Lehtisaari
In this station, the visitors can investigate the diversity of nature and the different species in the area. It is targeted especially at school kids and families.


Sound observation
Lauttasaari
This station features a big transmitter on the coast, directed to the Seurasaari island, which is a natural oasis in the middle of the city. With this tool, people can observe the contrast between the sounds of nature and a busy highway (noise pollution).
It is targeted for all, but mostly for those who pass by regularly.


Sea research
Salmisaari
This floating research station brings contrast to the urban industrial area. It aims to filter urban runoff and protect the Baltic sea, which is already in a worrying condition.
It is targeted especially at youngsters and young adults.


Lighthouses
Lighthouses visualise the data gathered from the research stations and the current state of the environment with lights. Lighthouses are in a visible spot so that all in the area are aware of them. They were inspired by the power line crossing the bay, but the spot for this installation should be considered more.
Lighthouses signal about:
- air pressure
- water temperature
- water quality
- air quality

With this concept and pitch, our team won the 1st prize in the Design Sprint competition.
Read more about the Design Sprint at the Sitowise’s website.

Design Sprint Schedule
09:00 Briefing at Lapinlahti
10:00 Ideation and discussion about the topic
11:10 Field research and observation
13:50 Lunch and ideation
16:00 Mentor meeting and feedback
17:00 Evaluating three ideas and choosing one
17:45 Finishing the concept idea
18:30 Concept visualisations
22:30 Dinner
00:00 Sleeping
09:00 Finishing the presentation
14:00 Lunch
16:10 Pitching