Malmi Railway Station to be developed as a result of a design competition

The Bullhorn design competition is targeting the development of the area around Malmi Railway Station. The competition focuses on the use of fibre-cement in an urban environment.  

Malmi Station is one of Helsinki’s busiest suburban transit stations and, by developing it, we can improve the daily lives of thousands of commuters. The station is surrounded by commercial companies and an extensive residential area, and to its east lies the hub of bus transportation for northern Helsinki.
People living and working in the towns are spending an increasing amount of time at stations and traffic centres, and their significance as elements that build urban identity is growing. Often, however, such areas lack character and vitality.

The Bullhorn Cembrit Design Competition, which is being organised as part of our World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme, is an international event for architects and designers. It will reward conceptual designs that utilise fibre-cement in an inventive way in the construction of a special living environment, and it will offer a platform for creative architecture.

The competition is being organised by the Danish Cembrit group, one of the world’s largest manufacturers, marketers and developers of fibre-cement flat boards. The company has offices in more than 20 European countries. Its Finnish subsidiary, Cembrit Oy, is located at Muijala in Lohja, about 45km from Helsinki.

The competition entrants are asked to consider arriving at Malmi by train, bus, car, bicycle and on foot. The plans must deal with three of these five modes of transport. The question is: using fibre-cement, how can the experience of arrival be improved as a visual, functional and mental experience? An international panel of judges will select three of the entries, from which protoypes will be developed for the final evaluation. The prototypes of the winning entries will be presented as part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme at an exhibition in Helsinki in May 2012.

In addition to international recognition, the three best entries in the competition will receive cash prizes. The winner will get €10,000, the runner-up €7,500 and third place will receive €5,000.