Save this picture! Courtesy of Mandaworks + Hosper Sweden

Mandaworks and Hosper Sweden were just awarded this past week with the third prize in the open international architectural competition in Mikkeli, Finland. From 107 proposals submitted last October, Mandaworks and Hosper Sweden were one of five teams selected to continue work in the second stage. Mikkeli is a medium-sized municipality with 80,000 inhabitants, most of whom live in the urban area Mikkeli. Their challenge was to find a model for how Mikkeli can densify around and best utilize the lakefront in an ecologically sensitive & holistically sustainable way. More images and architects' description after the break.

Save this picture! Courtesy of Mandaworks + Hosper Sweden

Stretching for self-sufficiency, Resilient Mikkeli binds together the new lakefront in a symbiosis of diversity with form fitting landscapes. Ranging from performing wetlands to an inter-woven civic promenade, the lakefront is alive with activity. With innovative public and private spaces that engage local residents, recognize seasonal variation, and immerse residents in nature, our strategy is to create 5 self-sufficient zones around the central lake of Satamalahti. Defined by the existing landscape, each of the individual zones is composed of a personal block structure that integrates into the existing fabric and terrain. Utilizing the strict grid of the city center and the established birch plantings, Resilient Mikkeli brings a variety of living types, building typologies, and plot sizes.

Save this picture! Courtesy of Mandaworks + Hosper Sweden

Within every development zone, we have developed a self-supporting eco-structure. With designed ecologies fit into the landscape, our proposal stands on four pillars: a connected water cycle, a balance of energy use and production, an effective waste management cycle, and a closed loop of local production and consumption. The goal is to reach a carbon neutral development and make Mikkeli’s lakefront a flagship project for a sustainable, hybrid and self-sufficient city.

Save this picture! Courtesy of Mandaworks + Hosper Sweden

From the jury: "The proposal which is rich in ideas and has involved extensive research, whose ecological approach is one of the most praiseworthy in the competition. Besides broader green issues at area level, the work has also put particular effort into in-depth planning at detail level. Illustrative images and cross-sections packed with action and events captivatingly display the author’s strong sympathetic approach to the landscape and the local environment.”

Architects: Mandaworks + Hosper Sweden

Location: Mikkeli, Finland

Competition Organizers: Mikkeli Municipality, Finland Association of Architects