VOOL
RETHINKING THE URBAN SPACE FOR
EMBRACING INCLUSION
Vool is the outcome of a project in collaboration with the Tallinn Strategy Center (Tallinna Strateegiakeskus) with the purpose of bringing innovation and identity to the most important crossroad in the capital of Estonia.
The Tallinn Strategy Center is the institution in charge of supporting the implementation of the city’s development goals, whose main interest with the project was to obtain a vision of the future scenarios for the urban space, involving the e-services that have popularized this country.
This was a teamwork project in which I participated in the research stage, concept and system design, and visual communication. Standing out the analysis of the problem from a systematic perspective, involving an inclusive and social design approach, which is part of my interests as a designer.
Partner: Tallinna Strateegiakeskus and Distributed Design.
Type of work: Design research, system design and experience design.
Collaborators: Karolin Madsen, Maarit Vuorinen and Jannatun Tazri.
Mentors: Ruth-Helene Melioranski and Ionel Lehari.
Project length: 4 months.
THE PROBLEM
Currently, Hobujaama crossing is the most transited street in Tallinn. With an established commercial area around it, the plaza has become a temporary stay space with little identity and poor conditions for pedestrians.
Since The City Government is planning to build a new tram line connecting the airport and the harbor, passing by Hobujaama, the place has the potential to become a meeting point for both locals and foreigners. So, the questions leading the research were about how to develop a sense of place for citizens and tourists and how this will improve the experience in the space.
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We held observations for a month and make used of external records to understand the dynamic in the different seasons. Video source: IG @mher_h
THE PROCESS
In order to transform the identity of a public space, we needed to understand the current dynamic and the type of people and activities that surrounded the crossing. For that, we used the following methodology:
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Observation of the place for 1 month on different days of the week and throughout the day.
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System mapping and user journey.
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Inclusive design and systemic thinking
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Sketching and prototyping through animation tools.
INTERDISCIPLANRY
TEAMWORK
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RESEARCH SYSTEM MAPPING
We held observations of the place for a month, then we analyzed the findings with a systemic approach.
We organized and analyzed findings through users' journey, stakeholders map, and system mapping, aligned also with theoretical concepts.
PATTERNS
Through the concept of non-places from Augé (1995), the users were categorized into 4 groups in regard to the purpose of their actions in the place: transferring, doing, wandering, and meeting. After the observation a set of patterns were identified, explaining the dynamic at the crossing:
Our research yielded five main patterns showing a dynamic of exclusion for some users. Vool aims to bring balance and embrace diversity.
The research showed that Hobujaama crossing and the structure around it has been configured to enhance the action of “buying”, which has created a dynamic of exclusion and an overall feeling of unbalance:
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The privilege of cars over pedestrians in time and space.
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Lack of accessibility of the public space compared to the private one.
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Centralization of activities for younger people.
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Money exchange preference for interaction between users.
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Feeling of being forced to act in a specific way because of accelerated dynamics.
This has affected the people who enjoy the public space (slow focus), mainly the elderly, disabled people, tourists and homeless groups.
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HOW TO CREATE BALANCE
The understanding we created evidenced the need of democratizing the dynamic of the public space in Hobujaama, allowing everybody to feel part of it. By slowing down the focus, people are able to notice, recognize and interact with a space that embraces diversity and strengthens their emotional ownership as citizens.
The Problem
CUSTOMERS MORE THAN CITIZENS
Exclusion feeling due to the privatization of the place, reducing the citizens' sense of ownership.
The Need
DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE PUBLIC SPACE
The Strategy
SLOWING DOWN THE FOCUS
How might the public space in Hobujaama foster inclusion and a sense of place?
Noticing
Recognizing
Interacting
VOOL
RESPONSIVE PUBLIC SPACE
With VOOL, we envision a responsive public space where everybody is welcome in a new rhythm of inclusion. A new signaling system, guided by the flow of water, provides a safe, unique and memorable experience for pedestrians and vehicles.
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The leading thought of VOOL is to transform the feeling of exclusion into inclusiveness. With the new rhythm, everybody is able to interact and understand. And with the multi-sensorial experience, everybody can create a meaningful relationship with the place and also increase the feeling of being protected.
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The stakeholders will benefit from VOOL’s versatile adaptiveness, as changes in mobility can be communicated through it and also the unexpected situations will be controlled with the combination of the already existing signals, as well, as the new responsive signalling. Besides guiding, VOOL is the opportunity to create a new sense of place for all citizens.
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With slip-free LED screens embedded on the ground, the signaling system indicates the time, the space and the speed for crossing. The use of water projection plays with optical illusion providing an immersive experience for everybody.
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THE DESIGN
WHY WATER?
The water manifests itself as a core element for escaping from the chaos in the urban space. Being around the water or watching the water provides healing energy, and a feeling of connection - with themselves and with those who are sharing the same time and space. The water is also a key element in the landscapes of Estonia, why not give a taste of that to the city?
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The water waves' projections indicate to the pedestrians that they must wait before crossing.
Red signals on the ground will come when someone gets too close to the edge or in the case of emergencies. Green lights and sound will announce the crossing time.
IMPACT & COMMENTS
People will know the public transport arrivals with the information projected on the ground and the slow appearance of the waves.
The strategy center of Tallinn was pleased to have a better understanding of the dynamic in the crossing, which may be similar in other locations. By standing out the need for inclusion in the public space, the city has now a base for planning future interventions.