Read all about Kalasatama

Housing

Kalasatama, located in the eastern part of the Helsinki central area, will provide homes for 18,000 residents and offer 10,000 jobs by the early 2030s.

It will be a lively district, offering both rental and owner-occupied apartments, as well as housing for students and seniors. The key idea of the planning is to create a compact city milieu situated close to maritime nature, with many apartments enjoying a spectacular view over the beautiful archipelago.

The blocks of Kalasatama are mainly urban one-entrance blocks where also three-story multi-family residential buildings will be built. Plans have been made to build terrace houses with balconies on the seaside, and apartment houses with their very own dock space for a private boat by the shore.

In Kalasatama, the residential houses extend almost down to the waterfront, and there will also be space reserved for a waterfront route for outdoor activities.

In addition, one ecological vehicle-free block with a green park will be built in the Kalasatama area.

Some apartment houses will have their own dock place by the shore. Picture: Jarmo Roiko-Jokela
Floating houses. Picture Now for Architecture and Urbanism Oy
Tropaion is designed by the Finnish architectural agency ALA.

Architecture

A tendering process will assist in locating original housing architectural solutions for some of the Kalasatama blocks.
Some 60 special floating apartments are planned for the Verkkosaari section in Kalasatama, with construction to start in the early 2010s. These floating houses will be privately financed.
 

Magnificent Tropaion homes

These sea view homes have been designed by the Finnish architectural agency ALA. They comprise the residential project “Tropaion”, which consists of five perimeter blocks of varying height covered with roof terraces on the top apartments.

The blocks form a gigantic bowl shape, with a sea view from all roof terraces enhancing a sense of community and togetherness. Building heights vary between 2-18 floors, with numerous housing types and apartment sizes included within the same block.

Kalasatama Centre will be built around the Kalasatama metro station. Picture: Erkki Rousku
Tropaion is designed by the Finnish architectural agency ALA.
Conceptual drawing of Kalasatama. Picture: Jarmo Roiko-Jokela
Floating houses. Picture Now for Architecture and Urbanism Oy

Services

In Kalasatama, residents have easy access to a variety of good services, with both commercial and social services nearby, along with basement shops.

The construction of premises for basic services commences in Sörnäistenniemi with an around-the-clock day care centre, with a school and a day care centre to be completed by 2014. Another day care centre will be established there, as well as classrooms for at least the first and second grades of school. Upper grades will also commence there at a later stage.

Housing numerous office premises and services, as well as a social and health clinic, Kalasatama Centre will be constructed to incorporate the Kalasatama metro station.

Occupying some 110,000 square metres of floor space, construction of Kalasatama Centre has started in 2011.

Kalasatama Centre will be built around the Kalasatama metro station. Picture: Erkki Rousku
Kalasatama offers an easy access to services. Picture City Planning Department

Leisure

A 100-year-old former gas plant next to Kalasatama in Suvilahti will be renovated into a cultural centre.

The centre will provide premises for work, performances and the arts, along with many kinds of clubs, festivals, concerts and exhibitions to be organised in Suvilahti. The Suvilahti area includes two gasometres and nine other buildings, situated on a combined floor space of approximately 12,500 square metres.

Suvilahti

Food and fun from the Wholesale Market

The Wholesale Market of Helsinki is located next to the Kalasatama metro station. Some 130 wholesale dealers selling groceries, vegetables, fruits, fish and meat serve grocery stores and restaurants in the metropolitan area.

The Wholesale Market is planned to expand into a Gastronomic Centre, which will include restaurants, coffee houses, a market square and possibly small gourmet shops to serve the general public.

The Wholesale Market currently provides premises, outdoor market spaces and freezing plant services. It also offers a waste management system, refrigerating production and cleaning services for the operators of city-owned properties.

Wholesale Market

Helsinki Zoo

Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island is situated just a stone’s throw from the southern tip of Kalasatama. A new bridge and tram connection will be built to Korkeasaari as part of the Kruunuvuorenselkä bridge project. The zoo will subsequently undergo major changes over the coming decade.

Helsinki Zoo

Flow festival in Suvilahti.
Helsinki Zoo is situated just next to Kalasatama. Picture Beckmann-n Thepe Architects
In summer, you can also take the boat from the city centre to Korkeasaari zoo. Picture Sakke Somerma