The Public Art Program of Lamminrahka area in Kangasala combines visionary objectives and practical guidelines
The new public art and landscape design program of Lamminrahka neighbourhood in Kangasala brings diverse public art and event-based art projects into the new area.
The new neighbourhood of Lamminrahka, situated on the border of Tampere and Kangasala currently under construction, will house 8000 residents and offer 1000 workplaces. Together with the new district of Ojala on Tampere side, Lamminrahka will form one of the biggest new areas for housing and business in the Tampere region housing 13000 residents in total.
The new public art program highlights living comfort and the rich natural sites surrounding Lamminrahka as well as aims to enhance the overall attractiveness of the area. The public art and landscape design program compiled for the city of Kangasala by Public Art Agency Finland depicts how these goals are achieved in practice and how public art acquisitions are realised in different sites within the area.
Visualistation of the new neighbourhood of Lamminrahka. Image: Arkkitehtitoimisto Ahonen & Kangasvieri
From Encompassing City Strategy into Local Public Art Program
The public art program of Lamminrahka is based on the strategic public art and landscape design master plan Lumoava Kangasala (Enchanting Kangasala), which was approved by the city council of Kangasala in March 2020. The Enchanting Kangasala plan defines wider development principles for the public art and sets the goals for landscape design in the city. It also sets parameters, models and policies for public art acquisition processes and funding in whole Kangasala.
The new public art program of Lamminrahka puts these visions into practice by specifying the policies and implementation practices of public art acquisitions locally. It also works as a guidebook for all the stakeholders involved in the construction and art management in the area.
While compiling the new public art programme the local relations of nature, built environment and art was studied.. Image: Krista Muurinen.
The new programme introduces the specificities of Lamminrahka its nature snd upcoming built environments, depicts the aims for the cityscape development and specifies the principles for public art acquisitions in the area. Furthermore, it includes a site plan for the public art and defines where permanent public art works will be situated.
Besides permanent art works, the program includes a variety of visions for temporal and event-based art works. The temporal and event-based works will highlight Lamminrahka as a vibrant place with diverse cultural happenings as well as create possibilities for residents’ encounters. The events and temporal artworks are hoped to build collective spirit for the new neighbourhood and increase living comfort during the construction period.
The programme also introduces how the public art acquisitions will be realised phase by phase and defines the roles of different stakeholders involved in the public art acquisition processes. The funding and schedule of the public art is planned so that they proceed in parallel with the overall construction and planning of the area.
Sites for art – Where Art Is Needed?
Three main questions for defining public art planning in a specific locale are What, When and Why.
In Lamminrahka these questions are approached from following perspectives:
Which are the public sites where larger groups of people stop to hang out? Which places are particularly significant in the area?
Which sites or places are in danger of being boring or dreary? Can art turn these places into more interesting or should the boredom be accepted as part of a versatile urban environment?
Considering the site-specificity: What kind of artwork or landscape design solution would fit the specific site? Where big ambitious artworks are needed and are there places where smaller pieces suit better?
What guidelines does the Enchanting Lamminrahka plan set for public art? How could these focus points and visions be implemented in practice?
Through this analysis 10 sites for public art were selected in Lamminrahka. Each site has its own guidelines and aims. Some of the sites include multiple spots and are suitable for artworks that consist of multiple parts. The 11th site for art will be decided by the residents, once people have moved in and the construction is close to finishing.
The sites for art in Lamminrahka on a map. The red spots are set as priority sites for public art and green spots mark other vital places as well as possible venues for temporal artworks. The heart with number 11 marks the artwork’s location that will be decided by the local residents.
Diverse Events for the Locals and Whole Pirkanmaa Region
Approximately one eighth of the total art budget of Lamminrahka is reserved for temporal art works and events. Some of the events are open for wider public in the whole Pirkanmaa region while some are specifically realised for the local residents such as the art and forest club for families as well as the annual September Party. The events and temporal artworks increase living comfort during the construction phase as well as increase the attractiveness of the area in general.
New media artworks such as works realised online or with augmented reality technology will be part of the event and temporal art program. The augmented reality technologies offer possibilities to preserve the natural sites in their original condition while creating new possibilities for encountering one’s surroundings through art.
When the Artworks Are Realised and How the Artists Are Selected?
In each site, the artists are selected individually. In the upcoming years. The acquisition can be made through portfolio-based open calls as well as through open art competitions in order to find most suitable artists to the specific sites. The art competition of the new school center opened already in fall 2020 and the next competitions will be announced by the end of 2021. All art competitions will follow the Artist's Association of Finland’s guidelines and they will be announced on the association’s web page and newsletter.
The artist’s selection for the new school building of Lamminrahka was selected through two-phased art competition. In the first phase artists send their portfolios and in the second phase the jury selected four artists to create a draft. Image: Verstas Arkkitehdit.
Multidisciplinary Team Behind The Public Art Program
In this public art program, as well as in all programs created by Public Art Agency Finland, a multidiciplinary group of art professionals guarantee versatile perspectives and know-how for the program development. The public art program of Lamminrahka was created by:
Maija Kovari – Architect and sculptor Maija Kovari has over 10 years experience from working in the art field as an artist and art producer. Kovari’s latests public art works include the text-based piece Kosken kuulemat (Heard by the River) which was commissioned for the 240 anniversary of Tampere city as well as the checklist inspired wall sculpture Tärkeitä asioita (Important Stuff) realised in the Ranta-Tampella district in Tampere. As an architect, Kovari has specialised in the design of public spaces and urban planning both on master plan and town plan levels. Kovari has wide experience working in collaboration with street and traffic planners and she is the founder and executive director of Public Art Agency Finland. In this public art programme she worked as the project manager.
Krista Muurinen - Renowned landscape architect Krista Muurinen works as the head of landscape architecture studio Maanlumo. The recent projects of Maanlumo include overall landscape design for Kalasatama district in Helsinki. The rooftop park of Redi shopping complex in Kalasatama was awarded with the annual Finnish landscape design award in 2019. In Jyväskylä, Muurinen has designed the parks and green areas of Kankaa neighbourhood and in Pirkanmaa Region, Ranta-Tampella district in Tampere with detailed and well-functioning strand routes has also been designed by Maalumo studio in recent years. In this public art programme Muurinen worked as the specialist of landscape design.
Johanna Havimäki - Sculptor Johanna Havimäki is best known for her charming animal characters. Havimäki has also worked as art producer and curator in multiple art organisations in Finland. Havimäki’s works have been acquired in the collection of several Finnish municipalities and museums as well as in the State Art Deposit Collection. Besides curatorial and artistic work Havimäki is also established graphic designer and illustrator. In the public art programme of Lamminrahka, Havimäki worked as executive producer and was also in charge of the visualisations of the programme.
The core team was reinforced with art professionals working with different art mediums. Painter Saara Piispa, media artist Timo Bredenberg and photography artist Karoliina Paappa contributed to the public art program and offered valuable knowledge from their expert perspective.
In Public Art Agency Finland the working team is tailored specifically to the projects purposes and aims. Let’s discuss together, how we could best help you with your project. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
cover image: Arkkitehtitoimisto Ahonen & Kangasvieri