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The Cross at Aviapolis
How to transform an airport region into an ecologic smart city?
By integrating nature, mobility, and community, urban design can create a sustainable, dynamic environment where people and connections thrive.
The Cross at Aviapolis envisions a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly city where nature, mobility, and community merge. Sloped topographies, modular housing, and sustainable energy transform urban density into a dynamic landscape. A car-free circulation system enhances connectivity, while the Cultural Valley creates a communal hub. This masterplan shifts city life from car-centric to a sustainable, people-focused urban environment.
Cross
Project Region
Europe
Project Period
2017
Location
Vaanta, Finland
Team
Paul Clemens Bart, Marvin Bratke
Status
Concept
Programme
Living, Mobility, Masterplanning
Client
City of Vaanta
Collaborators
Size
202.000 sqm
Cross
Design by topography.
The masterplan incorporates a dynamic topography with an excavate-and-retain strategy, creating layered programs. It features pedestrianized, traffic-free circulation around Aviapolis' residential hills and cultural valley. Mixed-use buildings transition from perimeter blocks to green village layouts, while flexible modular volumes and diverse vegetation foster unique communities within each neighborhood.
A dynamic hub.
As th heart of the development, the Cultural Valley integrates communal spaces, entertainment, urban farming, ponds, commercial stores, and schools into a seamless experience. This central space fosters interaction and engagement, offering a dynamic mix of cultural, recreational, and social activities for residents and visitors alike.
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Cross
A vibrant urban experience.
The architectural massing transitions from dense perimeter blocks to an open, park-like center, blending dynamic walkways, green spaces, and urban canyons. Sloping topographies create elevated residential hills, while the Cultural Valley fosters an interactive environment with hiking paths, urban farms, and green spaces, balancing urban density with nature in a vibrant cityscape.
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Sustainable Mobility, Connected Community
A pedestrian-friendly human scaled devolpment powered by Gemini, an all-electric, low-emission vehicle. These slow-moving neighborhood vehicles are the only allowed transport within the site, ensuring seamless mobility while reducing CO2 emissions. The Gemini system connects housing, communal areas, and the mobility center, fostering sustainable and interconnected urban movement.
Green Innovation for urban living.
Sustainability is at the core of the development, utilizing geothermal, biofuel, and solar energy to minimize heating and cooling needs. Green roofs, stormwater retention ponds, and an integrated Smart Grid contribute to an eco-friendly neighborhood. Biodiversity is fostered through themed topographies, ensuring a resilient and energy-efficient urban ecosystem.
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Single unit combined to diverse sizes.
The project employs a modular building strategy, using prefabricated apartment units to optimize construction efficiency. These modules are designed to form different housing sizes, allowing adaptability to individual needs. The approach ensures affordability, integrates daycare and recreational functions, and fosters a high-quality urban living experience with aesthetic and functional cohesion.