Intervention activities

Between Tallinn and Helsinki, a number of bonds are being formed, or enhanced, with the desire to establish an integrated region. but how much has this idea of a region played out in the reality of local inhabitants? Through our interventions we want to find out how much have these ideas relate to the desires and practices of local actors in this region. How do these visions relate, or conflict? what are the implications of either? are there other possibilities?

Metaphorically referring to the alco-tourism phenomenon, all projects feature alco-crates and carts in various combinations and forms. The economic relation is transformed into a social relation to explore this issue.

Our activities:

day 1: Kiosk:

A central base created out of crates as a portable platform, arranged along the lines of flow of people between the terminals at the harbor.

Intent: an understanding of the in between space as a space of relation set up in the the common space used by ferry passengers traveling to and from the city, we will find out what visions there are for such 'in between' spaces, and what kind of relations exist and are desired between the people of Tallinn and Helsinki.

Here we will test the notion of tallinn urban form as an archipelago of islands and in-between spaces. Postcards of the city in this spatial form will be available, encouraging people to understand the various parts of the city in different ways. there will also be a collection of desires of city development, redistributed as labels on water bottles. anyone who contributes a vision will receive another persons vision in exchange.

Gateway: addressing the concept of islands in Tallinn as centripical forces, a gateway made of beer crates will be setup in Tammsaare park between 'old' and 'new' towns. Populations of each 'town' will be tallied, and local users will be questioned about the different character of each space, and others in the city.


Day 2: Tallinn in transition

Visiting three different sites of urban and social transformation in Tallinn, these sites are:

Rottermann district, Balti Jaami Market, Uus Maailm Community.

We will bring elements of each site to the other, to understand the
differences and similiarities. Here we will also collect local users desires, to relate local perspectives to municipal and regional perspectives.

We can consider larger regional implications of development, and whether there are opportunities for regional strategies to address these concerns.

Events of the day will end in a dinner, discussion and video projection at the Uus Maailm district, on the corner of Suur-Amerika and Koidu tee.

Discussion:
what are the quality of these developments, what pressures are driving these, in particular, are there regional pressures? how do these relate to local desires and practices?

how do these transformations relate to developments in Helsinki? are there any useful comparisons and strategies to explore?


Day 3: harbour activation

A series of activities that explore the harbour area as a site of relation between Tallinn and Helsinki.

A beach party and performance in the city centre harbour area will address the relation of the city and the sea.

discussion: what are local desires for harbour development? how do these compare to official plans and regional development projects?


Tallsinki football!!! playing with the idea of ferry as a site of relation, how can this travel be reimagined? what are the goals? who wins? who loses? what are the rules????

Tunnel vision: much discussion has been had about a tunnel between tallinn and helsinki, but what are it's local effects? is it only a distribution access, or are there other ideas? come for dinner and discussion at the proposed site of the tunnel in Viimsi! (please contact us to confirm your attendance and transportation)