Mikko Aho

Architect, during competition Mikko was the Development Manager for the Municipality of Sipoo.  The Development and City Planning Centre is responsible for the municipality's strategic planning, large-scale land use planning and economic matters.  Previous employment includes working as an architect in the private sector, and public sector work as a city planning architect and technical director.

"Sipoo is an area facing new challenges, with great potential and a strategy of intense growth.  This creates new possibilities for incorporating the principles of sustainable development into use in urban and community planning.  We can learn lessons from the past and strive to create the foundations for a better future."

Sirkku Huisko

Landscape Architect, was working for the municipality of Sipoo during the competition time as Area Development Architect in the field of strategic land use planning. Previous employment includes research work at the Helsinki University of Technology. Experienced in the interactive planning process and its tools. .

"Solutions stem from the courage to ask and to challenge.  Understanding requires transparency and real changes are accomplished by co-operation.  The building of a sustainable community demands respect for the environment, culture and people, and an understanding of their interdependence."

Ilona Mansikka (Sito Oy)

M.Sc. (Architecture, Urban Design), M.A. (Interior Design).  Has worked in the field of urban planning in both the public sector as well as private architects' offices and consultancy companies.

"In designing a sustainable community, it is important to work transparently in a multidisciplinary team, maintaining an interaction with the existing population and other groups, and to respect their know-how and opinions.  In planning the area, it is important to respond to both local values and needs, and wider challenges.  International models should also be taken into account."

Natalia Martamo (Marketing and Public Relations)

Art Director, public relations consultant.  Has participated in various projects concerning marketing, public relations and area branding, for organisations, private advertising agencies and consultants.

"The Sibbesborg competition also marks the starting point for the development of the Sibbesborg regional brand.  The creation of a regional brand is a lengthy process, and it is vital, right from the very beginning, to build and develop the brand openly, together with local operators and residents.  A successful area brand is one that will facilitate the development of the area from inside and support local decision making."

Patrick Eriksson

M.Sc. (Architecture), has, over recent years, acted as a land-use expert and city planner for extensive land areas within the Helsinki metropolitan region.  Has also held several specialist posts in the field of architectural planning and been a forerunner in the development of ecological urban design in e.g. the Kartanokoski area of Vantaa and the Suurpelto area of Espoo.  In all of its projects, Eriksson's office strives to employ Z+EUS (Zero Energy Urban Structures), the environmental programme that it has developed.

"A sufficiently precise definition for "sustainable community" must be determined in the competition programme.  Are we talking about a carbon-neutral i.e. fully ecological community, or a community that is striving towards this? And by what means?  The programme should aim to define how competitors are to express the ecological criteria of the community. "

Seppo Junnila

Hille Kaukonen

Architect, responsible for the development of the quality of building design at Skanska Kodit Oy, uses "Living Area Design", a planning instrument that aids the conversion of needs of future residents into genuine features in new homes, which has been developed by the Nordic Skanska operators.

"Planning must be based on ecological values and ideas that improve the quality of living.”

Marketta Kyttä

An environmental psychologist whose Ph.D. dissertation in 2004 discussed Environmental Child-friendliness.  Since then, Kyttä has been realising her dream of creating an internet application, based on residents' experiences of their environment, which caters for the needs of community planning.  This has gradually developed into softGIS – a research and planning tool which links the perceptions of residents to actual physical places by means of a map interface.  Up to now, softGIS has been utilised in 9 Finnish localities, and more than 8,000 resident have already participated in these projects.  The GIS methodology is currently going global, with projects in Japan, Australia and the US about to be launched.

"Social and ecological sustainability must be approached as an inseparable entity."

Pasi Mäenpää

Ph.D. (Sociology), researcher at the Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki.  Researching urban culture, urban planning and urban politics.  His Ph.D. dissertation Narcissus in the City (2005) discusses the city as a platform for consumerism.  Has recently been involved in the development of the theory of Wide Urbanism and an examination of public spaces in terms of a city's resource.

"It is vital that the developing city is programmed to satisfy the needs of both the wider metropolitan area and each individual resident."

Kyösti Oasmaa

The Director of the Urban Project Unit for the City of Helsinki Economic and Planning Centre.  The unit is made up of project managers and project engineers, responsible for controlling the development of project areas into new, high-quality districts, on schedule.  Previous posts include Director of the Vuosaari Urban Development Programme, Director of the Espoo Centre Development Project, and Development Manager for the YIT GROUP regional development projects.  Specializes in networked urban development.

"In planning a competition for a sustainable community, I feel that it is especially important to define a tendering model in which the different aspects of the community are represented as well as possible.  The emphasis on objectives which focus on energy and ecological efficiency should be matched with the principle of quality of life."

Pirjo Tulikukka

Executive Director of the Helsinki Neighbourhoods Association (HELKA) since 2004, focuses on developing tools and methods for facilitating the networking and empowerment of neighbourhood groups, and improving their interaction with administration.  The agenda of HELKA has, for some time, focused on the sustainable development of neighbourhoods.  HELKA has recently begun to introduce vision-based methods into neighbourhood work.  Tulikukka's previous work in the area of a sustainable life style includes the introduction of the Eco Team Programme in Finland and the editing of its associated publication (“Ekotiimi - Ympäristöohjat omiin käsiin”), as well as active participation in the Helsinki Local Agenda 21 programme during its most active phase.  She is inspired by environmental development founded on vision-based, proactive and participatory methods, as well as social and ecological innovations.

"It would be useful to dispose of too much realism –  suitable solutions will certainly be discovered during the realisation phase.  If genuine sustainability really is the aim, the competition programme should be formulated in such a way as to comprise all facets of sustainability (ecological, social, economic and cultural).  As the competition area is situated close to the sea, the possibility of rising of sea levels due to climate change should also be taken into account."

Kai Wartiainen

Tero Helenius

An innovative and versatile thinker, who strives to discover new interconnections between different areas and levels.  Received his architectural training in London, specializing in generative architecture, group intelligence and subconscious behaviour.  Currently focusing on the effects of social media on behavioural patterns and cultural formation and also sustainable development and the development of regional finance, based on examples in corporate life.  President of Pöyry Architects Ltd.

"... to discover a model that inspires and supports the spontaneous change of residents' behaviour (controlled mutation).  This model must be capable of challenging the framework of conventional sustainable development."

Olli Jokinen

Taina Jordan

Architect, Manager of UDM Urban Design Management Ltd.  Work involves the use of new urban planning tools and methods of co-ordination, in order to aid urban planners who collaborate with developers in producing a better environment, and also simplifying work related to both planning competitions and urban planning.  Works in collaboration with Shop'in Research and Digium.

"In planning a competition for a sustainable community, it must be possible to evaluate the competition's quality criteria of the built-up areas and the surroundings by comparing the planning solutions.  The land use plan must define the principal energy, climatic, environmental and regional objectives, based on the quality targets of the competition."

Heikki Lonka

Architect, Doctor of Science (Technology).  Previous posts include Varkaus City Architect, Chief Development Manager for Vantaa, Deputy Mayor of Vaasa (Technical Sector) and Business Manager for FCG Ltd.

"The key factor in planning the competition for a sustainable community is the motivation of all parties concerned towards similar goals.  Without true engagement, operations and structures cannot change."

Antti Pirhonen

Architect, responsible for housing development at NCC Housing. In addition, his company Arkkitehtitoimisto Antti Pirhonen Oy acts as a consultant for competition organisation. Has staged around 30 planning competitions and served as an expert for many cities, major companies and various developers, as well as the Office of the President of Estonia, the Ministry of Culture in Latvia and CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, UK). As Secretary General for Europan Suomi Finland, he has organised several Europan competitions (Europan 4 1995-96, Europan 5 1998-99, Europan 6 1999-2001, Europan 7 2002-03, Europan 8 2004-2006 and Europan 9 2006-2008), and has participated in the development of international competition organisation on several occasions. As competition secretary of the Finnish Association of Architects (1989-95), has worked on the preparation of more than one hundred planning competitions, as well as the development of new models for competitions and competition organisation.

"1. The ability to distinguish between the matters that the organiser must decide and the subject of the competition
2. Determining the anticipated scenarios that are to be tested and developed in the competition
3. How to fulfil the multidisciplinary aspect of the competition phase and evaluation
4. An exact definition of the problem: timetables for planning and building , executors, budgets etc. – guidelines for the overall execution"

Kaarin Taipale

Ph.D. (Urban Studies), currently working as an independent researcher focusing on urban issues, and a Board Member of the Uusimaa Regional Council.  Previous posts include Chair of the (UN) Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Buildings and Construction, Chair of ICLEI  - Local Governments for Sustainability (a global association of cities) and Chief Executive of the Building Control Department of Helsinki.

"The competition programme should articulate clearly what is meant by a sustainable community i.e. the sustainable use of natural, economic and human resources.  The starting point could be based on the ISO Standard: 'Sustainable construction brings about the required performance with the least unfavourable ecological impacts, while encouraging economic, social and cultural improvement at local, regional and global level.'  Indicators for assessing and comparing the competitors' entries should also be given, and it must ensured that the objectives are identified by the jury."

Mari Vaattovaara

Pekka Vikkula

Project Manager for the Espoo Suurpelto Development Project

"The planning of a sustainable community must focus on the needs of the individual.  The personal well-being of humans and the reality of community operation must be defined within similar objectives."

Antti Ahlava

Graduated as an Architect from the Helsinki University of Technology (1996), also holds a Ph.D. from the Helsinki University of Industrial Arts, Department of Spatial Design (2002).  Partner in Helsinki Zürich Office Oy, where he specializes in building design and urban planning.  Recent work has included the Espoo Centre Development Programme (2010-), the Helsinki Art Museum in the Tennis Palace (2009-10), the Aviapolis centre (2009-), apartment block area infill models for Helsinki (2007-8) and re-utilisation of the Helsinki Town Hall quarters (2005-9).  Ahlava was part of the team that won 1st prize in the Espoo Hospital Planning competition (2009).  He has acted as visiting professor at the The Vienna University of Technology and the Aarhus School of Architecture, and currently lectures on urban planning in the Aalto University.  He is also a jury member of the Eskilstuna Architecture Council in Sweden.

"A good competition will promote the following objectives: a sustainable compact community structure, diverse development, cultural awareness and high-quality neighbourhood planning."

Trevor Harris

Pekka Lahti

Architect, Licentiate of Science, Chief Research Scientist at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, specializing in the eco-efficiency of community planning and development, community and area structure, impact assessment and its modelling and preliminary appraisals.

"The organiser's definition of the key concept – sustainable development – must be clearly and 'measurably' defined in the competition programme.  This definition must be sustained, without any amendment, right up to the evaluation of the entries.  The key concept should be precisely defined by the basics of eco-efficiency i.e.: the creating of conditions for developing and maintaining a community, in which the flow of energy and materials, based on their life cycle, is  controlled to the highest possible degree, on the one hand minimizing consumption of energy and materials, carbon footprint and waste, and on the other hand maximizing the share of renewable energy and the recycling of building parts and other materials.  It is also important to ensure that the emerging environment offers a credible and versatile framework for high-quality living, working and transport."

Kimmo Lylykangas

Head of Research, Aalto University, Department of Architecture, director of Kimmo Lylykangas Architects.  Specializes in energy-efficient building in research schemes and Finnish pilot projects.

"In my opinion the sustainable community competition should propose radical alternatives to land-use planning, transport and urban structure in particular, as well as building construction and energy management.  To my mind, the most interesting vision for a sustainable community has been put forward by the Swiss 2000 Watt Society concept, in which the goal for personal energy consumption has been set at 2,000 Watts, or approximately 17,500 kWh/m2a."

Wisa Majamaa

Managing Director, Doctor of Science (Technology).  Majamaa is in charge of real estate funds at the ICECAPITAL Group and Managing Director of ICECAPITAL Real Estate Asset Management Ltd.  He was previously employed by Aventum Partners Ltd (2008-2009), where he was involved with the structuring and fund-raising of real estate private equity funds.  Majamaa has extensive experience of the real estate and construction business, having worked as a director at YIT for over eight years, and prior to this, in planning and contracting in Finland, Russia and the Baltic countries.  He is a Doctor of Technology (Helsinki University of Technology) specializing in Construction Economics.  In addition to this, he holds an M.Sc. in Industrial Management from Lappeenranta University of Technology and an Electrical Engineering degree from Helsinki Institute of Technology.  He has also worked as a visiting researcher at the University of Melbourne and is currently researching real estate business and wealth management at the University of Technology in Helsinki.

"In planning a competition for a sustainable community, it is important to identify concrete and feasible target areas to the participants, in order that their entries will be comparable and the prerequisites for execution can be readily  assessed."

Jari Niemelä

Ecologist and Professor of Urban Ecology at Helsinki University, and Dean of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.  His research focuses on urban ecology and the interface between ecology and social science.

"It is vital to bear in mind that the city exists for both people and nature.  Planning must take into account the fact that the urban ecosystem provides essential services for its residents.  Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life. (the slogan of the International year of Biodiversity 2010) - even in cities."

Mauri Tommila

Raisa Valli

Susa Eräranta

M.Sc. (Economics), Architecture student. Currently participating in Aalto University research projects focusing on the development and research of interactive urban planning and sustainable communities.  Earlier work includes projects involving social responsibility and stakeholder group communications.

"It is essential that the elements of sustainable development are associated with a regional perspective. The competition should encourage bold decisions, that facilitate sustainable ground-roots solutions, for example through a higher level of self-sufficiency in food production."

Tiina Merikoski

Aija Staffans

Iina Valkeisenmäki

Currently completing her architectural studies and working as a research assistant at the Aalto University Department of Architecture.  Her Master's thesis, which forms part of the department's MATKA project, is examining energy-efficient and sustainable architecture in a northern climate.  She has taken an active role in the field of sustainable building, including work for the Climate Change Programme of the British Council.

"Combining expertise from different fields is an important prerequisite for the success of this competition and the achievement of a truly sustainable community.  It is particularly important that architects and engineers, for example, engage in dialogue at the earliest stages of planning, in order that urban design and architecture can support sustainable and energy-efficient objectives."

Susa Eräranta

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