Helsinki Music Centre Architectural Competition 1. INVITATION TO THE COMPETITION 1.1 Competition Promoter, Nature and Purpose The Finnish Government, the City of Helsinki and the Finnish Broadcasting Company are organising a general architectural competition for the design of a music centre in the centre of Helsinki. The competition is being arranged in two stages. The purpose of the first stage now being announced is to find ideas, townscape and urban structure solutions, as well as the music centre's basic functional concept. The competition's second stage will be used for the actual building design of the Music Centre. 1.2 Eligibility of Entrants The competition is open to all citizens from the European Union's member states, and to citizens from those countries that have concluded the GP Agreement with the European Union, according to each country's currently valid agreements and laws. Entrants registering for the competition must use the enclosed form. All competitors submitting approved competition entries for the first stage are eligible to participate in the second stage. 1.3 Prizes and Purchases The total sum of money for prizes and purchases will be FIM 2,000,000 (= EUR 336,500). Based on the results of the competition's first stage, FIM 750,000 will be awarded to the five best entries at the conclusion of the competition, each entry receiving FIM 150,000. In the competition's second stage, intended to be announced four months after the closing date of the first stage, the total sum of money for prizes and purchases will be FIM 1,250,000 distributed so that the First Prize is FIM 500,000, Second Prize is FIM 350,000 and the Third Prize is FIM 200,000. Additionally, two purchases in the amount of FIM 100,000 will be awarded. By unanimous decision, the Competition Jury may revise these denominations according to the competition rules of the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA). According to its competition rules, the Finnish Association of Architects will charge 7% of all prize and purchase money. Prizes will be paid through the Finnish Association of Architects. 1.4 Competition Jury Members of the Competition Jury appointed by the Promoters: Representing the Finnish State: - Secretary General Vilho Hirvi, Ministry of Education, Chairman - Counsellor of Construction Aimo Murtomäki, Ministry of Education - Chief Architect Tuulikki Terho, Ministry of Education - Rector Lassi Rajamaa, Sibelius Academy - Dr. Kati Hämäläinen, Sibelius Academy - Director Jorma Heinonen, The State Real Property Authority - Chief Architect Marjatta Erwe, The State Real Property Authority - Chief Architect Päivi Montola, The State Real Property Authority Representing the City of Helsinki: - Mayor Eva-Riitta Siitonen - Deputy Mayor Pekka Korpinen - Head of the Planning Division Tuomas Rajajärvi - Managing Director Helena Ahonen - Architect Anne Karppinen Representing the Finnish Broadcasting Company: - Director General Arne Wessberg - Chief Conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste - Managing Director Helena Hiilivirta Appointed by the Finnish Association of Architects: - Professor Kristian Gullichsen - Architect Pekka Helin Appointed by the Competition Jury: - Professor Herman Herzberger (Holland) The Competition Jury's permanent expert advisors are: - Deputy Mayor Antti Viinikka, City of Helsinki - Director of Finance Matti Partanen, Finnish Broadcasting Company - Intendant Ossi Peura, Sibelius Academy - Chief Architect Tuomo Hahl, The State Real Property Authority The Competition Jury's expert advisor in acoustical matters is Nagata Acoustics Inc. from Japan. Additionally, the Competition Jury reserves the right to consult outside experts. The Secretary to the Competition Jury is Architect Katriina Jauhola-Seitsalo, Engel Construction Management Services Ltd. Cost calculations will be prepared by Engel Construction Management Services Ltd. 1.5 Competition Programme Approval and Competition Rules The Competition Jury and the Competition Committee of the Finnish Association of Architects have approved this competition programme. The competition will adhere to this competition programme and the competition rules of the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA). 1.6 Registration and Delivery of Competition Programme Documentation The competition programme will be available from the following address as of 4 May 1999 (order preferably by telefax or E-mail): Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA) Yrjönkatu 11 A FIN-00120 Helsinki, Finland Fax: +359-9-584 44222 (Tel: +358-9-584 448) E-mail: paula.huotelin@safa.fi The competition programme is free of charge. To register for the competition, the enclosed form included in the competition programme shall be filled out and returned to the above address. In connection with registration, the Finnish Association of Architects will verify competitors' eligibility and mail competitors a certificate of participation. The deadline for competition registration is 2 August, 1999. The Competition Jury will prepare new instructions for the competition's second stage, after which documentation will be mailed directly to competitors eligible for the continuation stage. Registered entrants will be sent a list of the pseudonyms of the entries received, questions submitted by competitors and the answers to them provided by the Competition Jury, information about competition results, the exhibition of entries and the time schedule for the second stage of the competition. A home page devoted to the competition will be established on the Internet. The competition programme, as well as the above mentioned other information concerning the competition, can be found at the following address: http://www.minedu.fi/helsinkimusiccentercompetition/  There has been an announcement of the competition's organisation in issue No. 17/99 of the European Community's official bulletin according to the GP Agreement. 1.7 Languages of the Competition The languages of the competition are Finnish and English. 1.8 Competition Time Schedule The closing date for the competition's first stage is 23 August 1999, at which time drawings are to be delivered to the Promoters. The scale model can be submitted two weeks later by 6 September 1999. The aim will be to conclude the competition's first stage by 11 October 1999. The aim will be to announce the second stage of the competition on 3 January 2000 and it will be closed 3 April 2000. The entire competition's results will be announced 20 June 2000. 1.9 Follow-up Actions Resulting from the Competition Following the entire competition, and based on its final results, the Competition Jury will provide a recommendation to the Promoters concerning the commissioning of further planning. If, based on the results of the first stage, the Competition Jury decides that the Music Centre cannot be implemented on the competition site for townscape reasons, it may by its own decision terminate the competition after the first stage and distribute prizes based on its results. In that case the first stage's prize money sum of FIM 750,000 will be distributed. 2. COMPETITION PROCEDURES 2.1 Programme Documentation, Competition's First Stage The competition's programme documents are: This competition programme, including: 1. Helsinki City Government's decision of 16 April 1998: "Music Centre Design Competition - Points of Departure for Town Planning and Traffic" 2. Kamppi-Töölönlahti, Component Master Plan 3. Draft Outline Plan of the Southern Part of Töölönlahti 4. Kamppi-Töölönlahti, present situation, boundaries of competition area and scale model 5. Map of the urban structure, planning situation 1:3000 6. Map of the urban structure, planning situation 1:1000 7. Base map, important nearby buildings, photographs' camera locations 1:3000 8. Base map, boundaries of competition area and scale model 1:500 9. Töölönlahti park design 10. Töölönlahti traffic plan 1:2000 11. Excerpt from geological map 1:1000, contour map of bedrock surfaces 12. Excerpt from Karamzininkatu street drawing 13. Excerpt from design of area's parking and service arrangements (area's underground facilities) 1:2000 14. Two sections through competition area 1:1000 15. CD-rom containing base map (Section 8) in DXF format, and area's 3-D material 16. Photographs of competition area 17. Aerial photographs of the area 18. General map of the centre of Helsinki 19. Drawings of Railway Warehouses 1:1000 2.2 Questions Concerning the Competition Competitors may request clarifications and additional information concerning the competition programme. Questions shall be addressed to the Competition Jury using a coded pseudonym and shall be submitted in written form to the Secretary of the Competition Jury by 4 June 1999 (postmark) to the following address: Project Manager Katriina Jauhola-Seitsalo Engel Construction Management Services Ltd P.O. Box 17 FIN-00501 Helsinki, Finland Envelopes should be marked: "Helsinki Music Centre" Questions and the Competition Jury's answers will be posted 21 June 1999 to all registered competitors, and they will be published in Arkkitehtiuutiset (Architect News) No. 9/99, whose date of issue is 1 July 1999. Questions and answers will also be posted on the Internet at the Helsinki Music Centre's home pages after 21 June 1999 at: http://www.minedu.fi/helsinkimusiccentercompetition/  2.3 Results of Competition's First Stage, Evaluation, Announcement of Winners and Exhibition of Prize-winning Entries The Competition Jury will attempt to reach a decision by 11 October 1999, at which time the five best prize-winning entries will be nominated. All competition entries will be judged and divided into classes. An evaluation chart will be made for all competition entries. If there are many participants, only entries in the top class will be evaluated in writing. For purposes of public discussion, all competition entries will be exhibited publicly immediately following the conclusion of the competition's first stage. Anonymity will be maintained. Competitors' names and ranking will not yet be announced. To maintain the internal conceptual confidentiality of competition proposals, only scale models, site plans and exterior perspectives will be displayed. The City of Helsinki will prepare, based on the results of the first competition stage and the evaluation of the Competition Jury, revised town planning criteria for the area and initiate the rezoning process for the music centre's area. The Competition Jury will prepare more detailed planning guidelines for the competition's second stage. 2.4 Competition Entry Right of Use Prize-winning and purchased entries will remain the property of the Competition Promoter, and the Competition Jury shall have the right to utilise, according to Finnish copyright laws, townscape ideas presented in prize-winning and purchased entries when preparing instructions for further planning. 2.5 Return of Competition Entries Entries not awarded prizes or purchased will be returned at the Competition Promoter's expense to the address provided in the address envelope. 2.6 Insurance of Competition Entries in First Stage The Competition Promoter shall insure the drawings of each competition entry at FIM 20,000 (FIM 4,000 per drawing) and the scale model at FIM 15,000 for a total value of FIM 35,000. The insurance period shall begin from the moment the entries arrived and shall end when entries to be returned have been entrusted to the post office for delivery. 3. COMPETITION TASK 3.1 Background 3.11 Music Centre Facilities in the Music Centre will be designed for the Sibelius Academy, the Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Music Information Centre, as well as for a concert hall fulfilling high acoustical standards. The Music Centre's operational concept is openness. Its goal is to be musical meeting place for the public. At the Music Centre, it will be possible to drop in, listen to music, visit a sheet music shop, cafeteria or the music library. Vital to the Music Centre's existence is its location in one of the city centre's most active pedestrian traffic areas. In the Music Centre, music is listened to, played, rehearsed, studied, taught, researched and produced in all its diversity. Professional musicians, students and the public will be able to interact in a new kind of innovative environment. Both symphony orchestras will also gain synergetic benefits from their close physical proximity. 3.12 The Sibelius Academy The Sibelius Academy is an internationally recognised music conservatory operating according to traditional educational methods based on interactive relationships between teachers and students. There are approximately 1800 students enrolled at the Sibelius Academy, and they are taught by approximately 200 full-time teachers and 300 part-time instructors. About 100 persons are engaged in administrative and support functions. Presently the Sibelius Academy operates in four different locations throughout the Helsinki area, and this decentralisation constitutes a major inconvenience. The goal of the Sibelius Academy is to create a music college with active links to its surroundings and community. It also wants to foster interaction between music students, professionals in the field and the public. In a new kind of surroundings, the aim is to offer teachers and students new performance opportunities and the potential to develop performance modes. The Sibelius Academy's objective is also to create the prerequisites for university-level research as well as for education focusing on music technology, carried out jointly with various co-operating organisations. 3.13 Radio Symphony Orchestra Maintained by the Finnish Broadcasting Company, the Radio Symphony Orchestra is a nationally and internationally recognised symphony orchestra that requires proper facilities to match its level of musical proficiency and scope of activities. The Radio Orchestra began operating in 1927 as a small studio ensemble. By the end of the 1950s, it had developed into a full-sized symphony orchestra serving all of Finland. All the orchestra's concerts are broadcast live over radio and are rebroadcast several times on radio and television. Chief Conductors preceding Jukka-Pekka Saraste have included Leif Segerstam, Okko Kamu and Paavo Berglund. Additionally, the orchestra is led every year by many prominent domestic and foreign guest conductors. Since the 1960s, the Radio Symphony Orchestra has made more than 50 concert tours abroad to a total of 25 countries. The orchestra performs regularly in such cities as London, Vienna and other European concert centres. The Radio Symphony Orchestra does not have its own facilities; it operates in rented premises located throughout the city. The orchestra rehearses at Helsinki's House of Culture, which was not originally designed as a concert hall. Weekly concerts are performed at Finlandia Hall and the House of Culture. 3.14 Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Founded in 1882, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is the oldest symphony orchestra in Scandinavia. It has premiered almost all of the symphonies of Jean Sibelius. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra has gained international recognition as a result of numerous concert tours and successful recordings. The orchestra's Chief Conductors preceding Leif Segerstam included Okko Kamu, Paavo Berglund and Jorma Panula. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra operates in Finlandia Hall, where it rehearses and performs concerts. The orchestra's facilities are cramped and deficient and it has been necessary to rent space elsewhere. The orchestra's activities in Finlandia Hall are hampered by the problems of reconciling conference and concert functions, limited space and an acoustically difficult hall. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra has a long tradition of co-operation with the Sibelius Academy. 3.15 Information Centre The Information Centre is conceived and developed by the Sibelius Academy and will be an activity centre that will house such functions as its music library, laboratories, studios and facilities for technological education and research. The Information Centre's point of departure is the creation of interactive relationships between the public, music hobbyists and professional musicians, as well as the offering of services oriented towards the wealth of potential opportunities presented by new types of innovative technologies. 3.2 Competition Area 3.21 General Design History The Töölönlahti area is one of the most valuable unbuilt areas in the centre of Helsinki. The area has earlier functioned as a railway yard, vestiges of which are the warehouses dating from the late 1800s as well as the train tracks leading to the West harbour and shipyard. Goods traffic operations have been moved away from the area, and the tracks leading to the harbour and shipyard will remain in place at least until the year 2005. Because of its central location and the proximity of so many prominent buildings, the selected design solution, in terms of its role within the townscape, will have immense symbolic significance. Several general town plans have been developed for the Töölönlahti area during the past decades, but none of them has ever been implemented as such. During the period 1959 - 1973, Alvar Aalto produced a plan for the centre of Helsinki in which the railway yard to the south of Töölönlahti Bay was designed as a northward-facing fan-shaped terrace square whose functional content included extensive transport terminals and revised main road alignments, A group of cultural buildings was proposed for Töölönlahti Bay's western shore. In 1985, a general Scandinavian town planning ideas competition was arranged for the Kamppi-Töölönlahti area. Three prizes of equal merit were awarded in the competition. All three prize-winning entries featured fan-like urban structure compositions for the city centre in which buildings were placed along Mannerheimintie and the railway tracks. 3.22 Planning and Decision-making Situation Kamppi-Töölönlahti Component Master Plan Based on the further development of a competition entry that won an ideas competition for the Kamppi-Töölönlahti area, a Component Master Plan prepared for the area was approved by the City Council in 1991 (Programme Document No. 2). The Component Master Plan indicates blocks for public buildings along Mannerheimintie, while the area along the tracks has been planned for public, commercial and office buildings, as well as a possible housing area. Blocks are located so that the central part is an open plaza deck and recreational area. The Museum of Contemporary Art and Town Plan for the Töölönlahti Initial Area The building of the Töölönlahti area has begun in its southern section. For that reason two town plans have been approved for these areas. The Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by the American Architect Steven Holl based on his winning competition entry, was completed in the spring of 1998. The Initial Area has been ratified in the 1996 town plan, according to which the Sanoma House office building, designed by Architects' Office Sarc (Architects Antti-Matti Siikala and Jan Söderlund) is currently being built. Diagonal public pedestrian paths pass through the building and a high atrium opens towards the north. The town plan includes the Elielinaukio Square currently under construction, under which will be situated an underground parking facility. A northwards-oriented bus terminal will be situated at ground level. Public pedestrian paths and light traffic routes passing through the site lead from the centre to Töölönlahti and the western railway station platforms. The town plan also includes Töölönlahdenkatu, currently under construction, a ramp for the parking facility and service traffic, as well as a new connection to Karamzininkatu. Elielinaukio Square is bordered to the north by a hotel, commercial and office block area where the allowable building height will be 7-8 floors. Töölönlahti Draft Outline Plan A Draft Outline Plan prepared for the other parts of Töölönlahti Bay was approved by the City Planning Committee in 1996 (Programme Document No. 3) as a basis for further planning. In the Draft Outline Plan, the objective, from the standpoint of urban structure, has been to form a park-like urban space framed by buildings along Mannerheimintie and the railway tracks. In contrast to the Component Master Plan, the area's basic level remains at the present site level without plaza decks, and the park area is more extensive than that indicated in the Component Master Plan. The area along the railway tracks has been reserved for public, commercial and office buildings, and apartment buildings can be built as well. The lined area on the zoning map indicates a block section that is an overlap area for construction and parks. The buildings along the railway tracks are 3 - 6 floors high and their maximum elevation is approximately +25 m. Two separate buildings were conceived along Mannerheimintie, the Finlandia Hall extension and an extension for the Sibelius Academy. In the Draft Outline Plan prepared for the southern part of Töölönlahti Bay, the total floor area has been estimated as 70,000 - 110,000 m2. Töölönlahti Parks Design In 1997, Arkkitehtityöhuone Artto Kaijansinkko Palo Rossi Tikka Oy was awarded First Prize in an international landscape architecture competition arranged for the Töölönlahti parks area. An updated park design sketch (Programme Document No. 9) was prepared based on the winning entry. The basic structure of the park design comprises Töölönlahti Park, water themes and the continuation of public urban spaces to the Museum of Contemporary Art. The park area consists of sections with different characters: an events area, water garden and reflecting pool plaza at the southern section. The blocks along the railway tracks, designed to be interwoven with park areas, have also been indicated in the park design. The area is traversed by pedestrian paths and light traffic connections from Mannerheimintie, between the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sanoma House, as well as from the city centre through Elielinaukio Square to Töölönlahti Park. Preparation of Töölönlahti Town Plan A comprehensive town plan for the entire Töölönlahti area is currently being prepared, and its administrative processing will begin in the spring of the year 2000. The intent is that the results of the Music Centre competition's first stage currently in progress will be taken into consideration when preparing the new town plan. On 24 November, the Helsinki City Planning Department prepared an updated urban structure map (Programme Documents No. 5 and 6) that summarises the current planning situation. 3.23 Building Location The area reserved for the Music Centre is located in the centre of Helsinki along Mannerheimintie, the city's main thoroughfare. The competition area's immediate surroundings are dominated by the Parliament House (J. S. Siren 1931), the National Museum (Gesellius-Lindgren-Saarinen 1916), the Hakasalmi Villa (E. Lohrmann 1846) now functioning as a city museum, Finlandia Hall (A. Aalto 1971), The Museum of Contemporary Art (S. Holl 1998) and Sanoma House (J. Söderlund, A. Siikala), the office building that will be completed at the end of the year (Programme Document No. 7). The locations of Finlandia Hall, as well as the Opera House designed by Hyvämäki-Karhunen-Parkkinen northwards along the shore of Töölönlahti Bay are based on Alvar Aalto's plan for the city centre. The Opera House, Finlandia Hall, Hakasalmi Villa and Museum of Contemporary Art form the series of cultural buildings built along Mannerheimintie of which the Music Centre now being planned will become a part. The area's southern edge is limited by the planned underground City Tunnel and the railway tracks, leading to the harbour and shipyard, that will remain in place at least until the year 2005. At the area's northern edge, a joint parking facility for the Music centre and Finlandia Hall will be built in bedrock. Currently under construction is the Töölönlahdenkatu - Karamzininkatu intersection, the bus terminal for local traffic being built at Elielinaukio Square between the Main Railway Station and Main Post Office, and an underground parking garage and pedestrian areas. 3.24 Construction Feasibility and Foundation Conditions The building area is landfill covering what used to be a sea bottom. Bedrock is close to the surface at the area's western and eastern edges. At the centre of the area, bedrock is at a depth of approximately -5.0 m. Deeper bedrock is found at the site's northern and southern edges at depths of -9.0 to -10.0 m. In underground construction, walls shall be designed to be watertight. As a result of soil conditions, the Töölönlahti area has two ground water levels: a full perched ground water level under clay that fluctuates on the site in question between +0.5 m - +1.0 m and at the perched ground water level between +0.75 m - +1.0 m. There are wooden pilings nearby, for example under the Post Office and Main Railroad Station. Underground construction must be carried out so that ground water levels may not fall below the upper ends of nearby buildings' piles even temporarily. In practice, this means that excavations below the level + 1.5 m must be constructed within watertight sheet pile walls or caisson pile walls. 3.25 Noise and Vibration Levels In the spring of 1998, vibration measurements were carried out on the Music Centre's site to determine the Music Centre's structure-borne sound levels. For comparison, a structure-borne noise level of 20 dB was defined as the level that cannot be exceeded in demanding spaces. The study concluded that the largest disturbance factor is the section of railway track leading to the harbour that will remain in place until 2005. The track is used infrequently. Another disturbance factor exceeding the 20 dB noise level is the tram traffic along Mannerheimintie, but this can be attenuated by structural means. Otherwise, the noise level (rubber tyre traffic) does not cause structure-borne sound exceeding 20 dB. Traffic to the City Tunnel that will be built will not subject the building to vibration noise. The level of airborne traffic noise, approximately 75 dB, can also be reduced by structural means. 3.3 Points of Departure for Townscape and Town Planning The Music Centre architecture competition's town planning and traffic objectives approved by the City Planning Committee and the City Government are defined in Programme Document No. 1. In the City Planning Department's urban structure sketch of 24 November 1998 (Programme Document No. 5), the Music Centre has been situated at the intersection of Töölönlahdenkatu and Mannerheimintie along a reflecting pool. Due to the extensive nature of the Music Centre's room programme, the above-ground building volume shown in the sketch may prove to be too constricted to allow the implementation of an architectonically and functionally high quality solution. For that reason, the Competition Jury extended the competition area to the east (Programme Document No. 4). No official decisions concerning this have however been rendered by the City authorities. Based on current planning, the competition area is divided into three parts. The western section, Area A, has been indicated as the area for new construction where most of the building volume will be located. A connection to the parking facility as well as to service and technical spaces can be made at the area underneath Karamzininkatu marked "MAT". The central area B consists of the water theme related to Töölönlahti Park, pedestrian areas and light traffic connections. The intent is to build the water theme as a shallow reflecting pool, and the water surface can be close to the current ground level. The water theme's size and method of treatment can still be given new forms and the section underneath can be used for building. The eastern Area C comprises Töölönlahti's new park as well as the interwoven construction area. The competition area is limited on the south by the railway tracks leading to the harbour and shipyard. The tracks' possible removal will occur after the implementation of the Music Centre; for that reason the Music Centre's facilities cannot be placed on or south of the tracks. Concerning the placement of the Music Centre's above-ground masses and Area D, the area requiring design consideration outside the competition area, it shall be taken into account that the harbour-bound railway tracks shall not unjustifiably dictate the future urban structure. Regarding the competition's emphasis on ideas, proposals that deviate from the draft town plan may be presented within the framework of the competition area. 3.4 Target Scope The Music Centre's net programme floor area is 19,200 m2, equivalent to a gross floor area of approximately 28,000 m2 that may not be exceeded. 3.5 Objectives of the Competition The goal of the competition's first stage is to find, from the urban structure and townscape viewpoints, an architecturally and functionally high level solution for the Helsinki Music Centre. 3.6 Design Guidelines for the Music Centre 3.61 The Music Centre's Conceptual Basis The Music Centre will contain facilities for two professional orchestras, a music conservatory and a 1,500-seat concert hall fulfilling international acoustical standards. Other functions will include a "performance restaurant", cafeterias and an information and service centre containing a music library. It will be possible to set up small kiosks and shops during the day in the Music Centre's foyer spaces. All public spaces, such as foyers and corridors, can be used for different kinds of musical events. Besides concerts, a wide variety of performances will be arranged daily, and it will be possible to observe the orchestras' rehearsals. Outdoor spaces will also be planned so that, for example, outdoor park concerts can be arranged weather permitting. 3.62 Concert Hall The concert hall's main purpose is to be the acoustically best possible performance venue for classical music. Nagata Acoustics Inc. from Tokyo, Japan (http://www.nagata.co.jp) has been selected as the acoustical consultant for the concert hall. The hall's shape will affect its acoustics and the quality of its sound. The rectangular-shaped "shoe box halls" built in Vienna, Amsterdam, Boston and in other locations continue to be ranked among the most acoustically successful halls in the world. Other acoustically workable models have been developed later, such as the "vineyard" (for example the Berlin Philharmonic, Tokyo's Suntory Hall, the Sapporo Concert Hall). Both of the aforementioned hall types are different in their nature and suit different types of objectives. In terms of their size, both shapes suit the Music Centre's 1,500-seat hall. Other acoustically workable hall types can be found throughout the world. 3.63 Concert Hall, Acoustical Guidelines The concert hall's final form will be created from close co-operation between architect and acoustical consultant, but during both competition stages, the hall shall be presented at its correct size and in the desired shape. The stage shall accommodate a full-sized symphony orchestra (approx. 100 persons), and it shall be no less than 22 metres wide and 14 metres deep. The choir balcony (250 seats) shall be placed behind the stage and it shall be also possible to use as audience seating. If the hall is designed according to the shoe box model, it shall be narrow and high. The hall's free height shall be a minimum of 16 - 17 metres from the level of the stage, and its maximum width shall be 22 metres at the level of the stage. If the hall is designed according to the vineyard model, the hall's free height shall be a minimum of 22 m between the stage and the highest portion of the interior ceiling. The hall shall be insulated structurally from its surroundings and all entrances to the hall shall be provided with sound and light traps. 3.64 Concert Hall, Directly Contiguous Spaces Facilities directly related to concert functions include public foyers, the restaurant, Information Centre and PR facilities. These form the Music Centre's interrelated sequence of spaces that will function as the building's open events forum. The Music Centre's site placement enables it to be approached from several different directions. Foyers, the restaurant and Information Centre shall be designed to be conveniently accessible to the public. Various kinds of musical events, for example folk music performances and music-related exhibitions, will be arranged in foyer spaces on a daily basis. The rehearsal hall (500 m2) shall be positioned to be accessible from foyers, enabling events to be arranged for the public. The rehearsal hall also functions as a daily rehearsal hall for both orchestras when the large concert hall is not available. The rehearsal hall's floor shall be level, and there shall be no fixed seating rows. Spectator balconies can be planned in halls. As a result of the hall's multi-purpose nature, it shall be designed with electronically operable acoustics. All rehearsal halls will be used jointly. The smaller rehearsal halls will be primarily used for teaching, but they shall also be able to accommodate audiences. In connection with the main concert hall, an orchestra foyer, storerooms for musical instruments and auxiliary spaces shall be designed on the same floor level. Conductors' and artists' rooms must have smooth connections to the stage through the orchestra foyer as well as to public spaces. Dressing rooms will be used by both resident orchestras. Visiting musicians will also use these facilities. Dressing rooms must have good connections to the main stage through the orchestra foyer as well as to the orchestras' other spaces. 3.65 Music Information Centre Facilities The Music Information Centre belongs spatially to the Music Centre's open sequence of spaces formed by the foyer, restaurant and halls. It also forms the link between the building's other facilities and the Sibelius Academy. The Music Information Centre is closely integrated with the Sibelius Academy's new music technology department. 3.66 Sibelius Academy Facilities Those Sibelius Academy facilities most benefiting from the interaction between the public and professional musicians will be built at the music Centre. Folk music and jazz departments, as well as facilities for the new music technology department, will also be included. Facilities for the adult education centre will also benefit from the city centre's excellent connections and the building's other functions. The Sibelius Academy's facilities shall be designed as a separate spatial entity, however in such a way that they relate naturally to the building's other facilities and their joint use is convenient. Facilities shall be designed to provide the public with convenient access to such common-use spaces as, for example, the auditorium. The larger rehearsal rooms and studios shall be designed so that their free height is 5 - 6 metres. Free heights for rehearsal rooms and classroom facilities shall be 3.5 - 4.5 metres. 3.67 Service From the standpoint of the Music Centre's functionality, it is of primary importance that its servicing operates flexibly and quickly. Loading and unloading facilities shall be planned in connection with the concert hall's main stage, and it shall be possible for a long-distance lorry to drive directly behind the stage. The orchestras' daily activities include the transporting of large instruments, costumes and technical equipment into the building, from there out, and back in. The building's transport paths behind the stage shall be spacious, short and straight. 3.7 Room Programme See Appendix (http://www.minedu.fi/helsinkimusiccentercompetition/huonetilae.xls) 3.8 Judging Criteria Used to Evaluate Competition Entries When evaluating the first stage's entries, the Competition Jury will pay particular attention to: -the quality of the entry's urban structure, townscape and architectonic solutions, the entry's applicability to the surrounding urban structure and building stock, as well as the entry's overall design grasp of the designs for Töölönlahti. -the solution's functional properties, implementation of objectives and feasibility -the realisation of the prepared room programme and the proposed solution's economy In its judgements, the Competition Jury shall emphasise the townscape and architectonic qualities of the entries rather than perfection of details. 4. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SUBMISSIONS 4.1 Required Documentation Urban Structure Drawing 1:1000 The drawing shall illustrate the planned Music Centre's connection to the surrounding urban structure. The drawing shall be presented using the documentation schedule's map No. 6 as its base. The drawing shall also indicate traffic arrangements and connections in the Music Centre's immediate surroundings. Site Plan 1:500 The Site Plan shall indicate terrain height elevations, traffic arrangements and green areas. The Site Plan shall be presented as a shadowed roof plan. Plan Drawings 1:400 Plan drawings shall indicate height elevations, spaces, spatial groupings and accurate floor areas. Elevations and Sections 1:400 From the standpoint of evaluation, competitors shall present only essential elevations and sections. Elevation drawings shall indicate facades' main materials. Sections shall indicate floor levels as well as the elevations of uppermost eaves and roof heights. Perspective Drawings Each competitor shall present at least two exterior perspective drawings. Written Summary The competitor shall submit a written summary explaining and justifying the entry's main townscape ideas. The written summary shall be affixed to one of the boards and a copy shall be included with the A3 size reduced copy set. Scale Model The scale model will be built at the scale of 1:500. The scale model shall be packaged carefully to withstand transportation. The model will be returned to the competitor in the same box. The scale model's lower surface shall be at the elevation - 7.0 m. The Competition Promoter will have an extensive wooden model of the competition area and its surroundings into which competitors' scale models will be inserted. A3 Copy Set A bound A3 reduced copy set of all competition material shall be attached with the drawings. Other Material The competitor may also present other material considered relevant on only one board. 4.2 Presentation of Entries The use of colour is permitted. Drawings shall be affixed to an A1-size (84 x 60 cm, horizontal orientation) rigid backing and as such shall be of a publishable standard. 4.3 Entrant Anonymity Entries will be anonymous. All drawings and documents shall be marked with a coded pseudonym. Registration shall be filed using the enclosed form, which shall be mailed to the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA). The Finnish Association of Architects will mail a certificate of participation to all competitors who submitted registration forms. A copy of this certificate shall be included with the name and address envelopes in both competition stages. Each competition entry shall be accompanied by two sealed non-transparent envelopes, each marked with the entry's coded pseudonym. The first envelope shall be marked with the entry's coded pseudonym and the words "Name Envelope" and shall contain the certificate of participation sent by SAFA, author's name, copyright owner, address and telephone number. The second envelope shall be marked with the entry's coded pseudonym and the words "Address Envelope" and shall contain the certificate of participation sent by SAFA and the address to which an unawarded or unpurchased entry is to be sent. 4.4 Closing Date and Submission for Competition's First Stage The closing date for the competition's first stage is 23 August 1999, at which time drawings are to delivered to the Promoters. The scale model can be submitted two weeks later by 6 September 1999. Competition entries shall be marked with the words "Helsinki Music Centre" and they must be delivered on the date due by 4.00 p.m. at the latest or be postmarked or handed to a courier service on the same day to the following address: Engel Construction Management Services Ltd Katriina Jauhola-Seitsalo Lintulahdenkatu 10 P.O. Box 17 FIN-00500 Helsinki, Finland Competition entries shall be handed over to the post office or carrier for delivery so that drawings will arrive no later than 30 August 1999 and scale models no later that 13 September 1999. Documents arriving after those dates will not be judged. Competitors shall be able to confirm the date of dispatch if requested.

 

 

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