Read all about Jätkäsaari

This is Jätkäsaari

Currently under construction by the sea in southern Helsinki, by the year 2025 Jätkäsaari will accommodate approximately 16,000 residents and 6,000 jobs. This new development will form a distinctive part of the central city area – only ten minutes by tram from the very centre of Helsinki.

In Jätkäsaari, one can enjoy the heart-of-the-city ambiance, achieved by densely built single-entrance blocks and roof-level building. Good services, street-front shops, sidewalk cafés and a network of trams, as well as pedestrian and cycle routes, will also contribute to the feeling of being in the very centre of the city.

The proximity and sounds of the sea, the spectacular view from the parks and the waterfront, along with the boat marina and the passenger ship terminal, all add their distinctive flavour to the area.

Quarter aiming at sustainable development

Planned according to the principles of sustainable development, Jätkäsaari enjoys a central location, with a dense urban structure within reach of the environmentally sound operations of trams and the metro.

Commercial services and business premises

The neck of land connecting Jätkäsaari to mainland Helsinki is a located a mere 1.5 km from Helsinki Central Station. The area enjoys very good public transport and road connections and a passenger ship terminal, helping to create excellent opportunities for businesses via the availability of both street-front premises and office buildings.

A commercial centre will be constructed in Jätkäsaari. Ground floors of residential buildings along the main streets will be utilised for business use, and the largest commercial premises will be situated in the precinct’s central blocks, with additional office space to be built near the harbour.

Jätkäsaari will be a distinctive part of the central city area. Picture: City Planning Department
Jätkäsaari in the sunset. Picture 3D Render
Construction of Länsilinkki in 2010. Picture City of Helsinki
The storehouses in Jätkäsaari. Picture City of Helsinki

Construction

The construction of Jätkäsaari commenced in the autumn of 2008, with its first building project being the Crusellinsilta Bridge connecting the area to neighbouring Ruoholahti. A guyed bridge is nearly 50 metres high and 140 metres long. In addition to pedestrians, cyclists and cars, the bridge also serves a tramline connecting Jätkäsaari and the neighbouring Ruoholahti area.

A private cancer hospital and research centre, “Docrates”, has already been built in the north-western pocket of Jätkäsaari. The construction of residential buildings begun 2011. In the midst of the new construction, three listed buildings and two other existing buildings will remain standing in the area as a link to the past. They will be renovated and put to different use.

Map: Construction sites, parking sites and West Terminal

Jätkäsaari in 2012

  • Housing construction continues. 
  • First residents move to Jätkäsaari.
  • Trams begins to operate in Jätkäsaari.
  • Construction of streets continues.
  • A pedestrian and cycle route "Baana" from Jätkäsaari to city centre will be completed.
Crusellinsilta Bridge will connect Jätkäsaari to neighboring Ruoholahti. Picture: WSP Finland
A former harbor warehouse will be renovated to become a sport center. Picture: Olli Turunen
The construction of Jätkäsaari began in the autumn of 2008. Picture City of Helsinki

 

Conceptual drawing of Jätkäsaari. Picture: City Planning Department
The first residential building projects begin in 2010. Picture: Olli Sarlin
Construction of streets begins in 2010. Picture: LOCI Maisema-arkkitehdit
Several parks will be built in Jätkäsaari. Picture: Olli Sarlin

Transport

In the planning of Jätkäsaari, particular attention was given to the development of a comprehensive network of pedestrian and cycle paths, as well as a smooth public transport system, primarily trams. At present, Jätkäsaari can be reached by bus and by tram, with a metro station in close proximity located in the neighbouring area of Ruoholahti.

A tramline links Jätkäsaari to the Ruoholahti metro station, with all trams enjoying their own lanes in the middle of main streets to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic; meeting both the needs of the growing area and the passenger boat harbour located there.

Upon the completion of the construction of Jätkäsaari in 2025, a circular loop tramline will service the entire precinct, supplemented by a temporary bus service during construction.

Enjoy walking and cycling

A comprehensive and safe network of pedestrian and cycle paths will be developed in Jätkäsaari. The main pedestrian and cycle route will pass through the one-kilometre-long park in the centre of Jätkäsaari. In the parks, routes lead over pedestrian and bicycle bridges to other parks and to the waterfront.

Opening in 2012, a pedestrian and cycle route, “Baana”, will extend from Jätkäsaari to the centre of Helsinki, allowing residents to bicycle from Jätkäsaari to the city centre in just five minutes. The starting point of this route in Jätkäsaari is called “Länsilinkki”. The plot around the Länsilinkki underpass will form a square-shaped urban space, with the bridge spanning this space built as an environmental artwork. Construction of Länsilinkki was completed at the beginning of 2011.

Originally, the passageway in which Baana runs was built for trains servicing the old cargo port. As an important link with Helsinki’s history, the exposed section of this route that links with the underpass will be conserved.

Passenger boat harbor

Serving predominantly the routes between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki and St. Petersburg, Russia the existing passenger boat harbour will remain in Jätkäsaari. Today, approximately 3–4 million passengers pass through it every year.

Parking

Parking for residents and employees will be provided in underground parking facilities. There will also be short-term on-street parking for visitors.

More information about public transport in Helsinki.
 

A comprehensive and safe network of pedestrian and cycle paths will be developed in Jätkäsaari. Picture: City Planning Department
The existing passenger boat harbor will remain in Jätkäsaari. Picture: Roy Koto
In the future, public transport to Jätkäsaari will mainly consist of tramlines. Picture: 3D Render
Länsilinkki will be completed at 2011. Picture: Aiha environments
Baana joins Länsilinkki. Picture: Aiha environments
Underbridge for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Picture: AIHA environments
The Länsilinkki "west link" is a public square. Picture Aiha Environments
A pedestrian and cycle route Baana
A comprehensive and safe network of pedestrian and cycle paths will be developed in Jätkäsaari. Picture: City Planning Department
In the future, public transport to Jätkäsaari will mainly consist of tramlines. Picture: 3D Render
Länsilinkki will be completed at 2011. Picture: Aiha environments

Timeline

2008

  • Cargo harbour operations are transferred to Vuosaari.
  • Construction of a bridge to Ruoholahti commences.

2009

  • The private hospital and research centre Docrates completed.
  • Renovation of “Huutokonttori”, a future info centre and fire-rescue station began.
  • Construction of Länsilinkki commences.

2010

  • Construction of streets begins.
  • Soil compaction and land reclamation.
  • Land reclamation for an extension of the port.
  • Construction of the central park begins.
  • Residential building projects begins.

2012

  • Children’s house (day care and school, grades 1-2) construction launched.

2014

  • Sports centre and sports park construction launched.

Contacts and brochures

Jätkäsaari -  A new maritime inner city district (pdf)
Dynamic Helsinki - New Urban Development Projects (pdf)

Contacts