Reimagining Ruusupuisto: An exploration of the possibilities of regenerative infill within an Alvar Aalto heritage site

In the wake of an international architectural competition for an extension between the Alvar Aalto Museum and The Museum of Central Finland, this academic work touches upon on the social role and contribution of contemporary museums and offers an analysis of the requirements that museums must meet in order to be considered viable, sustainable institutions capable of furthering their social and educational role from a present day context and into the future. This research subject has been approached through a two stage, iterative design process, comprised of an initial competition submission and its subsequent reevaluation informed by a closer consideration of the factors contributing to the sustainability of a contemporary museum. The two stages respond differently to the various sensitive issues of infill within places of historical significance, a theme that was considered central to the initial competition challenge. In the first stage of the competition submission, the approach is that of adhering to established principles and practices within the field of intervention on architectural heritage. In the second stage, the design is based on a reconsidered architectural programme developed in response to the original competition brief with the purpose of more suitably addressing the previously mentioned sustainability issues. The reevaluated architectural programme has significant implications on the extent and scale of the intervention on the existing built context. Consequently, the second stage offers an unconventional approach to a similar challenge with the goal of exploring the limits of what is achievable by relaxing boundaries and restrictions on listed structures and sites. This work, as a whole, acknowledges the validity and imperative necessity of precaution in real world practical scenarios of historical interventions. With this in mind, the thesis takes full advantage of the freedom of its academic context and explores scenarios which might otherwise be overlooked in realistic and concrete situations. In doing so, this research highlights the importance and value of conjectural design explorations and their ability to inform the way in which pragmatic, real world design challenges are approached. In both stages and both approaches, the work aspires to find a balance between the complex expansion and reorganization needs of the existing institutions, and the sensitive infill strategy demanded by the site. All design decisions are taken with the intention of creating a coherent connection between the multiple historical layers, between old and new, while simultaneously respecting the character and values of the existing buildings. All throughout, the design process is explained in detail, showing the clear correlation between desired outcomes and the means through which they can be achieved. While the architectural expression of the final design is an expressive and unconventional response to the character of the existing built context, its function is that of providing a regenerative seed capable of reshaping the image of the site in the context of its community and simultaneously improving its social and economic sustainability