Workplaces, services and a new waterfront trail
The objective of the Hietalahdenranta planning is to connect the area as part of the city centre’s urban structure and to increase the vitality, number of users and quality of the surrounding areas by creating a high-profile business cluster with ground-floor services in the area.
According to the plan, the 5- to 9-floor buildings will be located on the south-eastern edge of the Hietalahti basin, replacing a service station and restaurant building existing on the site, and partly built on an artificial fill area. In addition to increasing workplaces and services, the aim is to develop the area’s public outdoor spaces, including the coastal zone, the edges of the Hietalahti basin and the Hietalahti market square, to make them a more attractive pedestrian environment. A new cycling and walking connection will connect the seaside area to the public waterfront trail around Helsinki.
The aim of the changes in the market square area is to renovate the square while respecting the historically valuable environment. In the idea plans, the current parking area will be removed from the market square, and more plantings will be added. The plans also address the impacts of climate change by considering the need for flood protection in a wider area and by proposing planting areas and structures that collect storm water in the area.
Plans developed based on feedback
A lot of feedback on the plans has been given in public events, online surveys and in writing at different stages of the preparation. The plans have been developed based on opinions, including abandoning the realignment of the Hietalahdenranta street and concentrating construction to preserve as much water surface area in the Hietalahti basin as possible. The plans also incorporate urban greenery and have developed the architecture of the office buildings to be more delicate.
The Urban Environment Committee to decide on further planning
In the spring of 2020, the city reserved the Hietalahdenranta area for HGR Property Partners Oy for developing a business premises project and for investigating the feasibility conditions further. The reservation was extended in the spring of 2023. The company has collaborated with the city to draft plans and studies for the area, based on which a draft amendment of the local detailed plan has been created. The draft, related preliminary plans and studies, and the feedback received on the project will be presented to the Urban Environment Committee on 29 October. The committee will decide on further planning.
The public will have another opportunity to give feedback on the project when the plan proposal is available.
