The area of the former Malmi Airport has been opened to the public. The fenced area of the airport can be accessed on foot through five gates. The area features a Nordic skating track, among other things. Driving motor vehicles in the area is not, however, allowed.
The former Malmi Airport has changed into an open area for all residents of Helsinki. You can stroll, run, bike, skate and ski as well as fly kites and play ball in the area. Motor vehicles, such as mopeds and cars, may not enter the airport area.
However, we advise visitors to note that two Rescue Department emergency mission routes run through the field, meaning that you must pay attention to your surroundings in the area if you hear sirens.
The access gates to the area and the recreational and temporary use functions of the airport are illustrated on the new Malmi Airport
guide
map for winter recreation(Link leads to external service) (in Finnish and Swedish).
The area has a Nordic skating track
Residents of Helsinki have been consistently requesting a Nordic skating track, but the thickness of the ice and the weather conditions at sea are unpredictable. The new recreational area on Malmi Airport proved a safer and more reliable location for a Nordic skating track. You can monitor the condition of the track in the Outdoor Exercise Map(Link leads to external service) service.
The Nordic skating track, reproducing the shape of the runway in places, resembles a cyclic quadrilateral. The track is approximately 1.2 kilometres long and has a width of up to more than 10 metres.
The Malmi Nordic skating track will be available to skaters for as long as the weather permits and conditions remain safe. The condition of the track and the ice will be monitored daily, and the track will be frozen, ploughed, brushed and graded when necessary.
Preparations for construction in the area
The construction of the area of the former Malmi Airport will be starting in early 2022. Preparations for the pre-construction of the airport area are currently under way, including three entities: pre-construction of the main natural gas pipeline, new access route to the northern section of the airport area and various pre-construction tests. The current understanding is that the work will start in late winter.
The main natural gas pipeline in the area must be transferred to a new location from the site of the first residential areas, Nallenrinne and Lentoasemankorttelit. In practice, this means that massive excavation works will be carried out in an area stretching approximately two kilometres. After the work is finished, the landscape in the excavation area will be restored.
The new access route will be located in the northern section of the area between Suurmetsäntie and the taxiway. The access route will serve construction logistics and various temporary functions, such as events.
An outdoor gym and play area is planned along the new illuminated walking and cycling route, the construction of which will probably start later in the spring.
Other temporary use of the airport
The Rescue Department will continue its operation in the Malmi Rescue Station and the use of the emergency mission routes across the airport.
Temporary premises for the use of Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute (Stadin AO) will also be located in the area for the duration of the construction of the new campus in Roihupelto. The outdoor training area for large vehicles and vehicle maintenance training depots will be taken into use by the logistics education department in March 2022. A fence marks the border between the outdoor training area and the recreational area, and the public may not enter the training area.
Repairs to the terminal and hangar
The terminal and hangar buildings of the former Malmi Airport are protected in the final city plan. Their building maintenance technology will be repaired to secure the continued use of the buildings.
The planning of the renovation of the terminal has been scheduled for 2022 and the technical repairs have been scheduled for 2023 in the budget. As far as the hangar is concerned, the planning has been scheduled for 2023 and the repairs have been scheduled for 2024.
Malmi Airport and Malmi Urban Renewal
The area of the former Malmi Airport is the most important new residential construction area in the new city plan. Approximately 13,500 new dwellings will be built in the airport area. The expected rate of completed flats is estimated at 400–600 per year. The construction of the entire area will take approximately 25–30 years. There are nearly ten residential areas to be built, each of them designed according to an individual theme.
Because projects involving the construction of an entire area take time, the City wants to ensure that the area of the former Malmi Airport remains in as active and versatile a use as possible before and during construction. As the finishing touches are put on land use planning and the construction project progresses, Malmi Airport serves residents of Helsinki as a versatile recreational, event and hobby destination spanning dozens of hectares.
Malmi is one of three urban renewal areas with plenty of repair and improvement measures over the following years. The temporary use of Malmi Airport and later residential construction will bring new activities and opportunities to the district and residents of Malmi as well as all residents of Helsinki.
Read more about suburban regeneration: uuttahelsinkia.fi/suburban-regeneration(Link leads to external service)
