Halvoo, Finland - a SketchUp city

[verticalextropy]

Fantastic!

[Vellu]

Again, thanks for the comments!

Originally Posted by Swede

All the entrances to those 19th century buildings are from the back, right? Nice old buildings, but that's a long block of no entrances or shops. Not so awesome for creating lively streets - but that's realistic in it self.

Yes, all the entrances are on the courtyard side. The low rise wooden west side of Halvoonniemi cape had also commercial buildings - shops, bakeries, pharmacies etc. - but none of them have been preserved. The popularity of Tehdastyöläisen kortteli block is based mostly on its small-scale, peaceful feel. Even in urban Halvoo many Finns prefer peaceful and quiet living areas

This weeks update: The former Dalkarby tool factory is today the Kuovi Resort Halvoo hotel & spa.

Section002_pic22 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Vellu]

On the left is one of the most recent highrises in the city center. The headquarters of the software company Pinesofta was completed in 2014. The building is 75 meters tall.

Section002_pic23 by Vellu04, on Flickr

A view from the rooftop terrace of Laituri 1 restaurant looking west.

Section002_pic24 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[spidey7312]

Looks good

I can imagine how the nimbys reacted to Pinesofta's headquarters

[mity1021]

Nice headquarters building. The entire city looks great!

[verticalextropy]

Pinestofta's HQ is beautiful and humble at the same time. Very Scandinavian. Reminds me of the Cricket Field by Futuresystems.

Beautiful, beautiful city.

[Vellu]

Thanks for the comments! The Pinesofta HQ was actually inspired by the shape of a video projector I once saw in a conference room where I attended a meeting.

Before 1990's the lands on the western shores of Halvoonniemi cape were separated from the city by the railroad leading to the South Port. After the new Halvoo port opened and the South Port was shut down, the railroad tracks were removed in the early 90's. A park - Satamaradan puisto - was built in place of the tracks and today it is very popular place to relax for Halvoo residents. The old railroad line is still visible in the rock cutting facing the park.

Section002_pic25 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Vellu]

Halvoo Marina.

Section002_pic26 by Vellu04, on Flickr

Looking east across the marina.

Section002_pic27 by Vellu04, on Flickr

The more detailed boats closer to the camera in the last shot are from the 3d Warehouse.

[mity1021]

So beautiful and realistic!

[Vellu]

Thanks, Mity!

I've now completed the second section.

From southwest.

Section002_pic28 by Vellu04, on Flickr

From northwest.

Section002_pic29 by Vellu04, on Flickr

From northeast.

Section002_pic30 by Vellu04, on Flickr

From southeast.

Section002_pic31 by Vellu04, on Flickr

From above.

Section002_pic32 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Codster121]

The city looks quite realistic and beautiful so far, Perhaps you could add a stadium somewhere, and a light-rail system.
How tall with the tallest building be?

Also, do you have any plans to work on Navaho Springs in the future?
Oh, and i updated Lakeport.

[Vellu]

Originally Posted by Codster121

The city looks quite realistic and beautiful so far, Perhaps you could add a stadium somewhere, and a light-rail system.
How tall with the tallest building be?

Also, do you have any plans to work on Navaho Springs in the future?
Oh, and i updated Lakeport.

Thanks! There will be a stadium and it's actually coming up in the next square kilometer section I will model. There's a tram line running north-south and also commuter train system, but a more extensive rail system is not planned. The tallest building will be about 200 metres tall, but it will not be located in the city center, so I'm not sure, if I ever will get to modelling it.

No plans for Navaho Springs, but occasionally I plan on modelling a North American city as a side project. Let's see, if that ever happens.

Here'll be the last update for a while, as I'm going to take a summer break from Halvoo.

Skyline looking southwest.

Section002_pic33 by Vellu04, on Flickr

Skyline looking northwest.

Section002_pic34 by Vellu04, on Flickr

Skyline looking northeast.

Section002_pic35 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Vellu]

Work started on the third section. The Finnic Hotel Rautatieasema (= railway station) originally opened its doors in 1976. Coming to 21st century it was quite outdated and worn and went through a complete renovation and re-clad process. It reopened in 2012. The building is 77 meters tall.

Section003_pic01 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Swede]

"Finnic"? a play on the Scandic hotel chain?
Built in 76, renovated in 12... yeah, it'd look like that.

So this 3rd part of the city will also have the railway station? what style are you planning for that?

[Vellu]

Originally Posted by Swede

"Finnic"? a play on the Scandic hotel chain?

Yes it is. Most of my company names are a play on real company names to make them feel more familiar.

Originally Posted by Swede

So this 3rd part of the city will also have the railway station? what style are you planning for that?

Actually the railway station will be on the 4th section, just northeast (to the left in the picture) of the Finnic hotel.

Here's a couple of towers from the first half of 20th century. On the left is Uudenmaankatu 60 from 1929. It is 63 meters tall to the roof. On the right is Uudenmaankatu 62 from 1919. It is 45 meters to the roof.

Section003_pic02 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[FREKI]

Stellar work mate!

[Vellu]

Thanks, FREKI!

The Halvoo Main Bus Station was an open surface lot with a small terminal building up until the 21st century. The lot was underused compared to other densely built lots in the city center, so plans to replace it with something more efficient were announced in 2001. The first phase - an underground bus terminal and a shopping mall (named Altto) above the terminal were completed in 2006. The second phase of two residential towers above the shopping mall was completed in 2010. Now the third and final phase - building an office tower named Alttotorni - is under way.

Section003_pic03 by Vellu04, on Flickr

Section003_pic04 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Vellu]

Kaaritorni (officially Uudenmaankatu 80) is an 84 meters tall office building from the late 1970's.

Section003_pic05 by Vellu04, on Flickr

From northeast:
Section003_pic06 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[Vellu]

Couple of more blocks completed:

Section003_pic07 by Vellu04, on Flickr

[rgarri4]

Man this is amazing!