A soft spot for reinforced concrete

I am pleased to report that Teräsbetoni [literally, "(steel) reinforced concrete"], a metal quartet of topless Viking-wannabe boys from Finland made it to the Eurovision Song Contest final to be held in Belgrade this Saturday. Their song, "Missa miehet ratsastaa" ["where men ride"] is, dare I say, a typical sort of heavy metal number. If you're into that sort of thing you'll probably think it's ok, not ecstatic or anything special though. In comparison with the infamous Lordi from two years ago, Teräsbetoni are nicer to look at (unless you're a fan of fantasy horror outfits, that is). I have a soft spot for hard rock, but whether Europe is ready for another heavy metal act is a different matter.

On a different note, I've made good progress is terms of neighbourhood case selection for my Helsinki benchmarking study (an added bonus since research is my main reason for being here). I have a shortlist of two areas: Kontula (where I used to live in 1999) and Pihlajamäki - both have had direct regeneration-type activity, Kontula mainly in 2001-2004 and Pihlajamaki more recently. Interestingly, Pihlajamäki has been made a conservation area due to its' unrivalled status as a symbol of 1960's architecture and modern urban planning in Finland. Pihlajamäki is the first 1960's estate to be listed in Helsinki, perhaps not the last one as the current regeneration programme focuses on 1960's architecture and heritage as a source of pride and 'curb appeal' in urban neighbourhoods. The Planning Department is simultaneously preparing guidelines for "safeguarding the values of 1970's estates in the urban fabric". Is it just me or does the Helsinki planning authority, too, appear to display a bit of a soft spot for reinforced concrete?

I say Michael Hebbert should bring his flock of urban design students to Helsinki for their fieldtrip next year! The City Council has adopted a policy in 2006 for "Esikaupunkien renessanssi" ["SUB-urban Renaissance"]. I am dying to find out how it differs from the "yellow book" aka the Urban Task Force Report of 1999, or indeed its follow-up in 2005 "Towards a Strong Urban Renaissance".

Oh, ManU just won the Champion's League against Chelsea 6-5 on penalties! It's got to be the weather in Moscow, it's atrocious: a mix of sleet and rain, the northern team thus having a "home field advantage".