Herkules Culture Blocks

  • Location: Turku, Finland
  • Client: Senaatti
  • Program: Housing, hotel, retail and offices
  • Size: 20000 m2
  • Year: 2024
  • Status: Purchase - Competition
  • Collaborators: Nomaji (Landscape)
  • Team: Ted Schauman, Jonas Nordgren, Kristian Kontula, Lasse Vejlgård Kristensen, Miika Jokelainen, Amanda Edesvik
image-1939
A lively community atmosphere, and the "Cultural loop" which supports activities and events

Herkules – Culture block

The Herkules blocks enhances the Cultural Shore along the Aura River by offering unique housing options, a lively community atmosphere, and the “Cultural loop” which supports activities and events. The loop connects three residential courtyards and becomes a vibrant gathering spot during special occasions. A boutique hotel at Eastern Riverside Street and Martinkatu caters to travelers seeking a prime location and cultural experiences. The block features diverse and flexible housing, including family-focused apartments and sheltered townhouses.

image-1940
image-1941
image-1942
image-1943
Hands-on activities, spontaneous events, and play

The design encourages hands-on activities, spontaneous events, and play. A semi-public brick path with creative elements runs through the area, connecting easily from Eastern Riverside Street and Martinkatu. Private courtyards are reserved for residents and include spaces for small events.

The courtyards offer themed areas with amenities: the craftsmanship block supports workshops, the cultivation block features a community garden and remote workspaces, and the playground block has a large play area and gardens.

image-1944
image-1945
image-1946
image-1947
Diverse facades, roofscape and scales for a unique identity

The block integrates with its surroundings, featuring diverse building types and scales for a unique identity. It presents an urban exterior with a peaceful, communal interior. The street-level facade is brick, with wooden upper floors. The block includes three sections—yellow (northwest), green (northeast), and red (southeast)—with varied facade colors and roof types, offering communal spaces and views of the city and sports park.

image-1948
image-1949
image-1950
Diverse housing solutions, including family apartments, artist studios, townhouses with gardens, and student apartments

The area offers a variety of housing options, including family apartments, artist studios, townhouses with gardens, and student apartments. Features include flexible layouts, effective ventilation, large windows, and communal spaces. Most buildings have a shared rooftop terrace with a sauna, and multi-functional common areas foster community. The design ensures adaptability for different needs and life stages.

 

image-1951
image-1952
image-1953

Project images