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IVALO RIVER SANDBANKS Architectural Interventions in a Dynamic River Landscape Page 2 | Introduction Laura Langridge -4420098 Langridge Laura Ivalo River Sandbanks Ivalo River Sandbanks TU Delft - Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment Delta Interventions Masters Thesis Author: Laura Langridge [email protected] Mentors: Frits Palmboom Taneha Bacchin Jan van de Voort Graduation date: June 23, 2016 Acknowledgements I would like to thanks my mentors for their tireless support and direction throughout this process. In addition, I would like to extend my special gratitude to Terhi Vuojala-Magga, for taking the time to share with me her knowledge and love of the Ivalo River. Page 3 | Introduction Page Page 4 | Introduction Laura Langridge -4420098 Langridge Laura Ivalo River Sandbanks Contents 01. Site introduction The Case for Ivalo 05. Flow Territory and History Introduction Flood History Tangibility 02. Project Proposal 06. Structure & Systems A Family of Buildings Massing & Materials 07. Model Images Shape Lines 08. 3x3x3 Analysis 03. Hide-Away 09. P5 Refl ection Introduction Flood Details 10. Citations 04. Shell Introduction Temporality Screen Details Page 5 | Introduction Page 01. SITE INTRODUCTION A brief introduction to Ivalo, its river and the area of Inari, Finland Ivalo River Sandbanks The Case for Ivalo My choice of graduation studio began with an interest in the relationship between dynamic water environments Ivalo, Finland, a place I had never heard of before this and the way in which society inhabits and constructs in study, was an unlikely choice. This community is located these places. In addition to my interest in fl ooding within approximately 250km above the Arctic Circle and has a communities, I was also particularly fascinated with the population of 4000 people. Upon seeing the images of added challenged brought about by a cold or Arctic the river and the landscape I was instantly captivated. climate (this may be due to my Canadian background). The beautiful maps of this river and the tell-tale history of its movement on the land were unlike any place I had The cases put forward in the Delta Interventions studio seen before. The meandering river previously nourished this year focused on Dutch cases. I felt as though these the land through its yearly fl oods, but today is causing situations off ered more in the way of a good precedent threatening the community with yearly spring fl oods. for dealing with fl ooding and less fl exibility in any The seasonal changes of the landscape are startling; proposed design. The nature of the Dutch landscape is in the winter the area is blanketed in snow and the that it has been formed and engineered for centuries. summer season seems to bloom with agriculture, sunlight and even beach landscapes. This dynamic landscape I began my research by quickly delving into broad became the site for my architectural project. research on the topic of fl ooding in Northern European countries. Various towns, and cities across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland were examined. Finland in particular has quite an established accumulation of data and mapping of fl ood risk areas within its borders. The EU Floods Directive – of which Finland is a member – requires member states to provide preliminary fl ood risk assessments, fl ood hazard/risk maps, and fl ood risk management plans. Finland’s fl ood mapping is currently readily available online and free and simple to use. This wealth of available information created the perfect base on which to further research in the architectural fi eld; selecting a site for study, even in a remote location, was fairly simple. Page 9 | The Case for Ivalo Page Ivalo RiverSandbanks Page 11 | The Case for Ivalo Page 12 | Territory and History Laura Langridge -4420098 Langridge Laura Ivalo River Sandbanks Territory and History History the promise of riches brought many people to the banks The Ivalo River has a long history which is closely tied of the river and helped establish settlements. Today, in to the culture of the people in the area. The original various parts of the river, people will still be known to try inhabitants of the area were the Inari Sámi whose main their luck at gold panning. livelihood consisted of fi shing and hunting. The river was their main mode of transportation and an important War in 1944-45 brought destruction to many settlements trading route. in Lapland. During the retreat of German soldiers, they destroyed everything they could as they left the country. Unlike most rivers in Finland, the lower course of the Ivalo After this destruction, Ivalo rebuilt and received new River is a meandering river. The meandering Ivalo river technologies and infrastructure. The airport was also fl ows through a sandy valley and over time has shifted (re)built in this time. When the town had another major and changed course, leaving an imprint of its paths in the fl ood in 1981, the new developments were heavily landscape. The shallow river valley experiences annual damaged. Following this fl ood, the town build fl ood fl ooding. In 1770 Finnish settlers began to occupy these embankments to protect against another fl ood. These lands because the annual fl oods created rich and fertile fl ood embankments began to isolate the town from the soil suitable for cultivation. These settlers were used river. Over the years, these embankments have been to living in a landscape which fl ooded. They built their raised to accommodate increasing threats. homes raised up on stone foundations. The wood fl oors were coated with tar or simply replaced following a major Flooding fl ood. The town continues to face fl ooding challenges. The whole river basin has very few lakes in which to store In 1852 the border between Russian Finland and Norway water so the lower course of the river is susceptible to closed. The nomadic Fell Sámi were cut off from their rapid changes in water level caused by increases in traditional migratory routes up to the Arctic Ocean. Many runoff . Questions of the town’s relationship to the river settled in the area of Ivalo. The population of reindeer and the need for fl ood protection are being discussed ballooned from 500 to over 9000 reindeer1. Reindeer in this municipality. Whether embankments should herding still remains common today. be heightened, the river controlled through upstream reservoirs or natural fl ood plains opened downstream Gold was discovered on the river in 1870. For a few years of the town are all being discussed by the municipality. There is a proposal to add a storage reservoir upstream 1 however, this would aff ect the wildlife and fi shing in the Page 13 | Territory and History 13 | Territory Page Laura Langridge - 4420098 area. The idea to allow for fl ood plains downstream from River Network the town to contain excess water is also understood as The River Ivalo is a central part of the culture and daily an option. life of the inhabitants. Inhabitants have engaged in fi shing since the original people settled in this area. The river The people who inhabit the Ivalo River area are has provided nourishment to the agriculture along its accustomed to living in a dynamic landscape. The banks. In the summer the river acts as a route for canoes diff erence between summer and winter is extreme in and boating. In the winter the river freezes and becomes temperature and daylight. Being well above the Arctic a roadway for snowmobiles, dog sleigh, and other Circle Ivalo experiences times a complete darkness activities. Even when the banks of the river have begun and also complete daylight. Added to this, there have to melt, the central area of the river can still be used; local always been spring fl oods caused by melt water or ice knowledge enables people to determine safe routes over jams. The community has considerable knowledge of the ice. the river and surrounding areas that allow them to adapt to these changes with ease. This culture of adaptability This abundance of river activity comes with a set of makes Ivalo a prime location for experimenting with river infrastructure. The Finnish landscape is dotted with ‘soft,’ adaptable architecture that ties into their existing wilderness huts which are one night rest stops to use culture. However, as the community continues to rely on while on an excursion. Along the River Ivalo, wilderness embankments, this knowledge, and with it their ability to huts occupy the banks from Kuttura, North through the adapt, may be lost. Hammastunturi Wilderness Area. Many times these huts are open and free to use. These simple structures are dotted through-out the wilderness like hidden gems. Page 14 | Territory and History 14 | Territory Page Ivalo River Sandbanks Snowmobile tracks Reservoir Settlement Catchment area Page 15 | Territory and History 15 | Territory Page Laura Langridge - 4420098 Flood Embankment 100 year fl ood information Sandbanks Page 16 | Territory and History 16 | Territory Page Ivalo River Sandbanks Seasonal Cycle Daylight Night Frozen water Snowcover Page 17 | Territory and History 17 | Territory Page Page 18 | Territory and History Laura Langridge -4420098 Langridge Laura Ivalo RiverSandbanks Page 19 | Territory and History Laura Langridge - 4420098 “In Karsimukka, a place between the village of Pikkupetsamo and Ivalo, there were hay fi elds and crops and caws in the hay fi elds. During those days when the river was our winter road this area was fully frozen (ice to the bottom of the river). There was a thick ice fl oe, and if the water was favourable, this ice fl oe grew to be very large and thick. And once between 1820 and 1850 – such a fl ood is recalled by the old people – this is what happened on the shore of the village of Törnkvist, between Pikkupestsamo and Kivikkoranta.

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