Easton Commercial Center / Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects" 06 Dec 2017. ArchDaily.

Accessed 19
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architects> ISSN 0719-8884

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Commercial Architecture and Community Integration

The role of commercial architecture in enhancing community life has become increasingly prominent in
recent urban development strategies. Projects like the Easton shopping center, designed by Lahdelma &
Mahlamäki Architects, exemplify this trend by integrating commercial spaces with community-oriented
facilities. The 30,000 m² floor space of Easton not only accommodates 40 businesses but also
emphasizes healthy foods and social interaction, addressing both commercial and social needs. This dual
focus aligns with recent architectural approaches that prioritize creating multifunctional spaces where
commerce and community life intersect.

The inclusion of diverse commercial activities that cater to the everyday needs of locals, such as food-
related businesses, lobbies, child play areas, and recharge zones, is a response to the growing demand
for spaces that foster social engagement. This approach resonates with the concept of mixed-use
developments, which aim to create vibrant urban environments by blending different types of activities
within a single space. By doing so, these developments not only meet the commercial demands of a
community but also contribute to its social cohesion and overall quality of life.

Urban Design and Local Identity

The location of Easton in the heart of Itäkeskus marks it as a key element in a larger urban strategy
aimed at revitalizing the area. Urban design literature often highlights the importance of integrating new
developments with existing community structures to enhance local identity and foster a sense of
belonging. Easton serves as a case study in how architectural projects can act as catalysts for urban
renewal, bringing value and increased opportunities to local residents while also preserving and
celebrating local culture.

The design of Easton emphasizes its role as a "new kind of city center" that celebrates daily life and
community. This is achieved through architectural features that open the space to the surrounding
neighborhood, such as shopfronts facing Kauppakartanonkatu. This design strategy aligns with principles
of walkability and street-level engagement, which are key to creating urban spaces that are both
accessible and inviting.

Architectural Aesthetics and Local Regulations

The façade of Easton is a notable example of how contemporary architecture can navigate and
reinterpret local building regulations. The project faced strict requirements for a red brick façade, a
common feature in the area. However, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects transformed this constraint
into an opportunity for innovation by developing a ceramic and aluminum tiling system that mimics the
traditional red brick aesthetic while introducing a modern, undulating texture.

The use of 120 tiles in varying shades, arranged in a computer-sequenced pattern to appear random,
creates a warm, textured mosaic that both conforms to local aesthetic norms and allows Easton to stand
out as a beacon of development. This approach reflects broader trends in architecture where material
innovation and digital design techniques are used to reinterpret traditional building forms, creating
structures that are both contextually appropriate and visually distinct.

Impact on Local Development

As a major commercial and social hub, Easton is positioned to significantly impact local development.
The shopping center's design not only enhances the pedestrian experience but also aims to bring
increased economic opportunities to the area. This is consistent with urban development theories that
emphasize the role of well-designed commercial spaces in driving economic growth and social well-being
in local communities.

By creating a space that accommodates both commerce and community life, Easton contributes to the
broader goal of urban regeneration in Itäkeskus. The project’s success could serve as a model for similar
developments, where architecture plays a central role in revitalizing neighborhoods and fostering local
identity.

https://www.ucem.ac.uk/whats-happening/articles/what-is-adaptive-reuse/

What is adaptive reuse (and why is it important)?

1 May, 2024

Why adaptive reuse projects are growing in popularity: 4 key benefits

1. Maintaining cultural heritage

One of the chief arguments against the M&S Oxford Street campaign was the loss of a historic building
that, while denied listed status, carried cultural significance. The adaptive reuse model allows historical
buildings and cultural landmarks to be maintained while they serve a new purpose.

2. Reduced construction costs

Adaptive reuse projects can often be significantly cheaper for a company than having to demolish and
rebuild from the ground up. What’s more, adapting a building for a new purpose can be faster, too. You’ll
also circumvent many of the legal, regulatory and political challenges of demolition projects (as Marks
and Spencer experienced), depending on the location of the existing building.

3. Optimised energy consumption

It’s not just in the construction process that adaptive reuse is more sustainable than demolition and
redevelopment. When repurposing a historic building, you also have the opportunity to convert the
building with environmentally friendly heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that
make it more energy efficient and reduce running costs.

4. Helps combat urban sprawl

Instead of having to seek a new construction site further afield, adaptive reuse gives builders more
choice and allows them to choose from existing sites that help reduce urban sprawl and offers them
geographical advantages.

5 types of adaptive reuse

Here are five different adaptive reuse strategies:

1. Facade

Facadism, or facadectomy, is a type of adaptive reuse where a building’s facade (front part or exterior) is
preserved, while the rest, for example its inner structure, are demolished and modernised. While not a
‘true’ repurposing of a building, it’s viewed by many as being better than simply demolishing a building
entirely.

2. Integration

In an integration, a new structure is built around the existing building, allowing the original structure to
be maintained while enclosed in a new site. The historical building will still be modernised during this
process in order to preserve it, and it may still be used for its original purpose.

3. Renovation

Renovation is a form of adaptation that seeks to modernise and replace elements of historical buildings
that are in poor condition whilst maintaining their core structure and appearance. A great example of
this is the Schuurkensstraat in Ghent, Belgium – a house dating from the late 19th century that, while
optimised with modern enhancements, retains its original appearance.

4. Infrastructure

Historical buildings aren’t the only candidates for modernisation and repurposing – adaptive reuse
interventions can also be applied to infrastructure, from bridges and viaducts to hangars and even grain
silos.

5. Heritage conservation/preservation

In perhaps the most comprehensive form of adaptive reuse, built heritage conservation involves
maintaining a building’s materials, facade, integrity and structure while making minimal renovations in
order to modernise it.

5 examples of adaptive reuse projects

1. The High Line, New York City, USA

The High Line (pictured at top of page) is one one of the most famous examples of adaptive reuse, and
an example of how this model can be applied to infrastructure as well as historical buildings.

Opened in 1934, this railway was opened to allow the transportation of items for the food industry, but
once this method was replaced by the use of trucks around the 1980s, it fell out of operation.

Instead of demolishing this famous New York landmark, it was adapted into a park, opening in 2009 and
ever since becoming a popular tourist attraction.
2. Jægersborg Water Tower, Copenhagen, Denmark

Another famous example of adaptive reuse is the Jægersborg Water Tower, Denmark, a popular
landmark, when it was opened in 1955, sparked controversy for its design.

The former water tower now serves as both housing for students and a youth center, adopting elements
of biophilic design, such as protruding crystals that help bring in natural light.

3. House of Vans, London, UK

The House of Vans is a ‘mixed-use creative venue’, housed underneath 150 year old brick arches that
stemmed from a railway line heading out of London’s Waterloo station.

Today, it serves a variety of purposes and houses various facilities for fans of the famous shoe brand,
from cafes and bars to music venues and even skate parks.

4. Wooden Structure at Launchlabs, Basel, Switzerland

Over in Basel, Switzerland, an assembly hall from a machine factory that was already being repurposed
as an event venue is now in use as a multifunctional working environment.

Another example of a mixed-use environment, this environment is designed to fulfill a number of

different purposes simultaneously, from co-working to offices, workshops and events.

5. Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, USA

Ghirardelli Square was originally a chocolate factory established by Domenico “Dominigo” Ghirardelli in
the 19th century. After the company was sold in the 1960s, theis historical building was repurposed into
a shopping and restaurant complex.

This particular building adaptation is one of the first examples seen in the USA, and is an example of an
adaptive reuse intervention that successfully maintained an important cultural space within the city
whilst continuing to provide value to residents.

6. Tai Kwun Heritage Centre, Hong Kong, China

It’s not just Europe and the USA that recognises the potential of adaptive reuse. In Hong Kong, a
compound of heritage buildings, including a former police station, have been repurposed into open
space – a rarity in a city so densely populated.
https://www.archdaily.com/78273/cascade-commercial-center-radionica-arhitekture?
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"Cascade Commercial Center / Radionica Arhitekture" 18 Sep 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 20 Aug 2024.
<https://www.archdaily.com/78273/cascade-commercial-center-radionica-arhitekture> ISSN 0719-
8884

The Cascade Commercial Center in Zagreb is a prime example of contextual architecture that integrates
seamlessly with its surrounding topography. The design features terraced levels that connect two parallel
streets at different elevations, reflecting the natural landscape and enhancing urban connectivity. The
terraces, which serve as semi-public spaces, blend private commercial areas with public city life,
fostering social interaction and continuity within the urban fabric.

The architectural design is minimalist, with the building’s shape dictated by its function. The terraces are
spacious, allowing them to serve both as circulation areas and extensions of the shops and cafés. The
façades are defined by shop windows, and the top terraces are covered with a translucent roof to create
a light-filled environment.

Cascade also incorporates mixed-use elements, with residential apartments separated from the
commercial areas, demonstrating a balanced approach to urban living. The inclusion of an underground
parking garage addresses practical urban needs while maintaining the aesthetic and functional qualities
of the development. Overall, Cascade represents a thoughtful integration of architecture, urban design,
and community-focused space.

https://www.archdaily.com/995133/powwowwow-commercial-center-all-zone?
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"POWWOWWOW Commercial Center / all(zone)" 19 Jan 2023. ArchDaily. Accessed 20 Aug 2024.
<https://www.archdaily.com/995133/powwowwow-commercial-center-all-zone> ISSN 0719-8884

POWWOWWOW Commercial Center / all(zone)

The architectural project in Bangkok addresses the city's shortage of green public spaces, which falls
below the WHO standard, by transforming vacant land into a sustainable urban living model. The design
proposes a small, accessible pocket park within a neighborhood, promoting local community
engagement through daily food stalls, cafes, weekend markets, and urban farming. This initiative is
aimed at revitalizing empty prime land by making it commercially viable while fostering a sense of
community absent in the surrounding high-rise developments.

The building itself is designed as a pavilion with a large roof and minimal walls, reflecting the tropical
living typology. The design maximizes the natural environment by preserving existing vegetation, with
the roof strategically positioned to maintain the green oasis. The space under the roof features flexible,
fluid activities in natural air, with vines covering opaque walls and fences, enhancing the connection with
nature.
The landscape design emphasizes maintaining the green surface area by keeping the building's footprint
minimal and introducing edible plants that blend urban farming with local traditions. These plants, which
require low maintenance, are designed to encourage visitors to engage with urban farming by taking
home parts of the plants, further connecting them with the concept of sustainable living.