Simrishamn 2008

Marine Centre Simrishamn

We want to create a meeting place that focuses on information, competence, knowledge, entrepreneurship and experience of the Baltic Sea’s marine environment. 

The city of Simrishamn and the Österlen* region

Simrishamn and Österlen offer unique possibilities for the creation of a meeting place for all aspects of the sea. The inhabitants in the region have by tradition been dependant on the sea and the region offers much accumulated knowledge about the sea, the shipping industry, transport, fishing, beaches and recreational areas etcetera. A clean sea has always been, and continues to be, a precondition for a thriving and dynamic Österlen region. 

The municipality of Simrishamn has a long coastline (approximately 70 kilometres), proximity to international transport links, universities, high-tech companies and to add to it all, a strategic position in the southern Baltic Sea region. 

Simrishamn, which is the only town in the Österlen region, is a small town that dates back to the 13^th century. Habitation in the area can be traced as far back as to the Stone Age. Each year approximately 2 million visitors come to Österlen and Simrishamn and enjoy its picturesque environment and pastel coloured houses, restaurants, museums, cafés and shops. 

The climate in the area

The proximity to the sea means the climate is mild. It is possible to swim in the sea during the summer months and sometimes as late as September. The autumn is mild and winter seldom arrives before January or February. It can be rather windy in Österlen and when there is much snow the winds can cause problems with snowdrifts.

The harbour and the quarter ”Skeppet” (“the Ship”)

The Marine Centre is planned to be located in the city harbour, at an attractive position right by the sea. A picture of the sight can be found on page 12 in the brochure Invitation to the Marine Biological Centre in Simrishamn.  

The beautiful, historical red brick warehouse (“Tegelmagasinet”) will be preserved. While the bottom floor is already in use (offices for the Swedish Board of Fisheries and the Swedish Coast Guard), the two upper floors will be renovated and become part of the Marine Centre. The two sheet-metal buildings (green and yellow respectively) next to Tegelmagasinet are planned to be removed, which allows for the construction of a new building, which is supposed to function as the main building and meeting place of the Marine Centre. 

The task

The task is to propose an exterior formation as well as interior solutions for the future Marine Centre in Simrishamn. Connection to and disposition of the exterior environment of the location should be taken into consideration as well.

Conditions 

• The proposal and plan for the Marine Centre should be characterised by key words such as playful, innovative, inspiring, exciting and organic technicality.
• There should be a connection to the marine environment outside and the centre should function as a gateway to the sea. The building should interact with its surroundings and may gladly have a “living” exterior, perhaps with some sort of feelers beneath the sea surface so that sea and land can communicate/interact.
• Architecture with biomimetics/biomimicry/bionics is desirable.
• A place for meetings – the centre must be multifunctional and needs a flexible interior with good options for office spaces and rooms for small group sessions (workshops, labs) , as well as lectures/performances in a location (stage/auditiorium/conference hall) that can seat up to approximately 300-350 people.
• The centre is supposed to function as an international meeting place for scientists, organisations, entrepreneurs, businessmen, politicians and people committed to the Baltic Sea/marine environments. The centre should be a base for international cooperation between actors around the Baltic Sea. The hotels in the City of Simrishamn do not have the capacity to meet the requirements of a conference with 350 guests and therefor a plan is needed for some sort of additional off site hotel. This hotel is not part of the task, but should be kept in mind, not least with regard to accessibility to the Marine Centre.  

• The centre will function as showroom and arena for exhibitions.
• The centre must be able to function as a base for temporary research, field studies and the like. This means there is a need for temporary, short term as well as long term, residences. The centre should be an attractive research environment with innovative, high quality solutions suitable for modern working places.
• The centre must contain flexible office spaces/studios (to be rented for small businesses/entrepreneurs/artist-in-rescidence/scientist-in-rescidence). It must have a creative environment so that it is a good alternative for setting up a business/activity.
• The centre will also function as a cultural meeting point and must thus contain a stage for cultural events. All in all, the house will be cross-disciplinary and multifunctional and should attract activity and action altogether. The various activities do not necessarily have to be connected to the sea and the marine environment.
• The building's entrance is of course of particular importance.
• The centre needs a restaurant/café (local food) of reasonable size and proportion. One idea which could be developed further is to include a bar with a view.

• Proportional amount of facilities.  
• The fishing industry and adjacent industries will remain in the absolute vicinity of the centre. These two activities must thus be able to function side by side.
• The centres location close to the city centre should be taken into consideration.
• “Tegelmagasinet” (the red brick building) is to be preserved and renovated. Old and newly built elements of the building should be mixed in a creative yet stylish manner.
• It must be possible to build the centre in stages, starting with the renovation of the Tegelmagasinet.

Appendices:

Invitation to the Marine Biological Centre in Simrishamn

Strategi för Simrishamns stad (Strategy for the City of Simrishamn)

The suggestions will be presented in public during the summer of 2009 and possibly later as well. A longer exhibition will take place in July/August, with some major event being arranged around July 23-26. In September another event is planned. While the summer event will probable focus on inhabitants and visitors (tourists) to the region, the event in September will be some sort of conference for scientists and decision makers.

* Österlen is a very important name or trademark that refers to the coastal region in the east of Skåne and that is known all over Sweden and probably in parts of Denmark and Germany as well. If you own a house in the area and would like to sell it, market it as being situated in Österlen and you will guaranteed attract more potential buyers. What is Skåne? At the southern most tip of Sweden lies Skåne (Scania). It is province, a county and a region. As a province it borders on its peers Halland, Småland and Blekinge, as well as Denmark, Germany, Poland and the Baltic States – albeit with some water between.

------

Notes:

- Catalyst a discussion:

- Green Energy

- Evolving over time

- Self Assembly

Name suggestions for the centre are very welcome!