Wings of Hakaniemi

This thesis explores what is needed to consider in order to adapt Hakaniemi square into changing future circumstance by city plan in Helsinki and proposes new design at the end. The whole thesis consists of three parts. The first part is about that as a traditional marketplace and political platform, why ‘a square’ needs to be reconsidered, and the second is then why ‘Hakaniemi market square’ need to be intervened among four major market squares, and the last part is about how the square could be better as a design proposal. The first part begins from three primary roles of a square in general which are economic, political and social space. A square usually opens as a marketplace which is platform of livelihood for retail and small business. However, in the European square, there is something different thing than other. Because it is a continent that originated modern political system which is a democracy. From Agora in ancient Greek and Roman forum, people used the space not only for a trade but also for sharing and expressing a political agenda. After a medieval feudal, the French revolution was one of the most significant events for the modern society, also for the history of a square. From that time it belongs to people again, and they started to express political thought there again. A square has been a place for the Russian revolution, and many other revolutions in the world up until recent history and it has been a centre of bottom-up politics. The second starts with exploring the history of Hakaniemi and Kallio regions. It reveals that Hakaniemi square has left-wing political character due to its neighbourhood in the past and majority people, who used the square, were working class from Sörnäiene industrial area. Even now many left-wing political bodies are located around the area. So people often use the space for political events which became a significant feature of the square. The study also includes the city plan of the region to find out what is going to be changed. Lastly, The design proposes how to adapt in a future changing environment around Hakaniemi region while making the smooth connection between different levels, and also How to accommodate possible event by people around include space of socialising. It focuses on to explore spatial quality with generosity and sense of humanity in the site as well as materials and structural rationality