Helsinki East Urban Centre to be built around Stoa and Puhos – detail plans are entering the decision-making phase

New urban structures will be built around Stoa and Puhos

The area located between the Itäkeskus and Puotila metro stations is currently dominated by large shopping centres, car parks and main roads for motor traffic. Based on an idea competition that concluded in 2020, plans have been drafted to improve the quality of the public space and add new housing close to great services and public transport connections. These plans will ensure the preservation of the most valuable buildings and urban spaces while strengthening the role of the bustling Stoa and Puhos area as a meeting place for different population groups.

The plans facilitate the renovation and expansion of Cultural Centre Stoa and protect the original fan-like wing of Puhos Shopping Centre. There are high-quality public outdoorspaces  planned around the main attractions in the area. Stoa square will be expanded and developed into an active event venue. New structures will be built around it, extending as a strip via the new Kastelholmankuja to the back of Puhos Shopping Centre.

“This city block, called Helminauhakortteli, will connect Stoa square to the new public street space that will feature a large number of plants and business premises, along with seating areas. The aim is for this new and comfortable shopping street to also bring life to the seating area at the back of Puhos. The overarching idea in the design has been to create a great pedestrian zone and high-quality public outdoor spaces ,” says Leading Architect Mikko Näveri.

The current daycare centre plot at the western edge of Stoa square has been examined to see whether it could be replaced by a live music concert hall or an assisted living facility, with the ground floor featuring business premises and other premises with direct access to the square. The daycare centre will move into the new Rusettipuisto daycare building in 2026. 

A new urban Stoa Park will be built in the spot between Turunlinnantie, the extension of Cultural Centre Stoa, and Puhos Shopping Centre. The newer sections of Puhos will be replaced by a new residential block, the ground floor of which will feature business premises with a total floor area of approximately 4,500 square metres. The entrepreneurs operating in the current business premises slated for demolition will be offered the option to relocate to either the new business premises or the business premises to be developed in the protected section.

The street network and traffic arrangements in the area will remain roughly unchanged. A master plan on a new bridge that will, in principle, be covered has been drawn up for Hansasilta, a bridge leading from Stoa square to Tallinnanaukio square. Both the new bridge and Turunlinnantie are designed to allow for the construction of a tramway in the future.

The current car parks in the Puotila metro station area will be replaced by urban housing for approximately a thousand residents. You can read more about the plan in this  news article published towards the end of last year.

The City is investing in East Helsinki

The City has collected feedback on both plans from residents over the years, and the guiding principle behind the plans has been to strengthen the area’s diverse identity. Based on the feedback received on the draft plans in 2024, the plan for the Stoa and Puhos area has been specified and a detailed plan proposal has been drawn up. A revised detailed plan proposal has been drawn up for the Puotila metro station area, with updates to the solutions for fitting the new buildings into their surroundings. Both plans have taken into account the feedback on balancing the distribution of housing, and at least half of the total floor area will be allocated to owner-occupied housing. The Stoa and Puhos area will feature housing for approximately 1,200 residents, while the Puotila metro station area will offer housing for approximately 1,100 new residents.

The party responsible for developing the Puotila area and Helminauhakortteli is the Itis Siti consortium, which came in second place in the 2020 idea competition. Puotinharjun Puhos Oy is responsible for the Puhos area’s development.

The City of Helsinki is making major investments in the Itäkeskus area. Besides the street and park construction included in the plans currently being considered, there are also new local detailed plans being launched in the nearby areas. Also, in addition to the major improvement of Stoa, buildings such as Itäkeskus Swimming Hall and Itäkeskus Comprehensive School will undergo major improvements in the next few years as well.