Urban renewals will improve the environment in Kannelmäki and Malminkartano. According to Ia Pellinen, Director of Kanneltalo, the large construction projects in Kannelmäki will only be realised after many years. However, a number of smaller projects are already happening that will increase the attractiveness of the area.
Director of Kanneltalo Ia Pellinen says that Western Helsinki does not have the same clear identity as many districts in East Helsinki do. Instead, people from Kannelmäki are very proud of their own hood. And not without reason.
“As rough as it may be, Kannelmäki is absolutely magnificent. It’s incredibly well connected, and there is a lot nature around. There are species in the Mätäjoki area that you can’t find anywhere else. It doesn’t take a long walk to get to an almost countryside-like atmosphere.”
Pellinen also unabashedly praises Kanneltalo, despite it being her own charge. Pellinen makes a convincing argument: the magnificent cultural centre consists of a beautiful library, Adult Education Centre activities, youth services, a popular café, a gallery, as well as numerous events.
As rough as it may be, Kannelmäki is absolutely magnificent. It’s incredibly well connected, and there is a lot nature around. There are species in the Mätäjoki area that you can’t find anywhere else. It doesn’t take a long walk to get to an almost countryside-like atmosphere.
As rough as it may be, Kannelmäki is absolutely magnificent. It’s incredibly well connected, and there is a lot nature around. There are species in the Mätäjoki area that you can’t find anywhere else. It doesn’t take a long walk to get to an almost countryside-like atmosphere.
She points out that the large construction projects in the Kannelmäki area will only be realised after many years, but there are already a number of smaller projects being carried out in the area. They can help to boost the attractiveness of the area.
These large projects focus, among other things, on the vicinity of the Malminkartano station, the Malminkartanon sydän project, and the surroundings of the Kaari shopping centre.
Kannelmäki and Malminkartano will see new housing and commercial construction. The Vihdintie light rail is intended to pass through Lassila to Kantelettarentie, all the way to shopping centre Kaari.
The aim is to carry out the urban renewal together with the residents. Pellinen says that there is a group of a few active people in the area that they want to add to. This is also supported by the Kantsu Village Festival 3.0 in August. That is when Kanneltalo and Sitratori in front of it will be reserved for the residents, this year for the third time. Residents and other actors in the area are welcome to hold almost any activity or programme that they want. The city supports the event with technology and permits, for example.
“We are very careful to not influence the content itself, and strive to leave it in the hands of the residents from start to finish.”
According to Pellinen, the Village Festival is one example of the area's sense of community. Kanneltalo, in the middle of it all, wants to create opportunities for independent activities by Kannelmäki people, for Kannelmäki people, in other times than the Festival as well. At Kanneltalo you can find theatre plays, dance performances, art exhibitions, concerts and films. You can rent spaces and hold events.
The Kanneltalo café has become popular, which Pellinen is very happy about. Many will stop by for coffee or a visit to the library and, at the same time, find out about other activities.
Pellinen says that Kanneltalo is seen from by the city organization as an organizer of entertainment services that brings joy and activities while the big urban renewal projects proceed.
Among other quick improvements, he cites the restoration of the Sitratori murals and events such as city dances that are held throughout the summer, as examples.
The residents of Malminkartano also use the offerings of Kanneltalo, but the Malminkartano also has its own community centre, Renki. It is maintained by the residents’ association, who operate a café there on weekdays. Renki is especially popular with families with children.
“For the second year, cooperation with the Helsinki Urban Art Association is underway in Maltsu. Its purpose is to introduce culture into people's daily lives and involve local residents in the planning and implementation of events.
The association has organised, among other things, the Maltsu live! event, which, in August last year brought, among other things, live music to the streets. This summer, we are again cooperated with the HUA and, in addition to events, brought workshops to Malminkartano this summer.
The locals actively join the events, but Pellinen hopes that more people will be involved in organising them as well.
“We hope to entice people to try out to plan and implementation together first. When you see what you get personally from doing it and what the neighbourhood receives, your enthusiasm grows and sticks to others.
When asked how the urban renewal reflects in her own work, Pellinen laughs and says that it’s just added to her workload. The cheerful answer reveals that an the additional work is not a bad thing.
“Now, all sectors of the city have not only the opportunity, but also the obligation to invest in our area. We overlap our operations, and residents do not need to know who in the city organization is responsible for what. The main thing is that their residential area is being improved, that a many fun things are happening and that there’s a lot of sensible things to do. Communicating all this is, however, difficult.”
Pellinen says that communication requires cooperation, simply because 30% of the area's population speaks a language other than Finnish or Swedish. Thus, to relay that message requires the help of the immigrant communities, among others.
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Support for cooperation has been provided through the training received from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation and Harvard University’s Development Programme, which has also included city employees working in the Kannelmäki-Malminkartano area. According to Pellinen, the programme has been of great help in developing the network of operators in the area.
Residents are interested in the plans for the areas. As an example, a good indication of this was the resident evening in Malminkartano, held in May. Residents want detailed information on, for example, infill housing on the edges of the green areas. For example, plans in Kartanonmetsä have been updated based on feedback from residents.
”It is good for your opinions to be heard. That is why, among other things, we hold these resident evenings,” says Pellinen.
Malminkartano is currently investigating what kind of use would be possible for the empty commercial premises. For example, cultural activities could make the area livelier.
All in all, in Pellinen's opinion, the urban renewal area has a positive vibe. Many are already waiting for the Kannelmäki station area, for example, to become more attractive.
In Pellinen's opinion, the urban renewal has good leaders and tools for implementation. A tremendous amount of work is carried out, the increase in cooperation across sectors is visible and has already had an impact on operations.
She believes that when the urban renewal programme in Kannelmäki and Malminkartano ends in 2035, the new operating methods will be refined and made use of in the future.
At this time, her big wish is that the development of Sitratori would find its way to the top of the list. Maintenance and tidying could be done more efficiently and, for example, there could be more flower plantings. Pellinen is also hoping to see more events in the market.
“Alongside the urban renewal, we carry out the visionary work of the cultural centres. We seek a vision, together with residents and other actors, of what we can offer in the future.”
Urban renewal is one of the measures of the Place for Growth strategy, as well as one way to prevent segregation. We will focus particularly on the development of school and leisure services in the urban renewal areas. One of our most important tasks is to listen to the areas’ residents and actors and to carry their message forward. In urban renewal, cooperation plays a key role.
In the future, we will increasingly serve and meet residents in new facilities, as a new school, hospital, family centre, and health and wellbeing centre will be built in Malmi. Other key projects include Community House Kontula, Laakavuori, the heart of Malminkartano and the Meri-Rastila multi-purpose building.
Urban renewal in Malminkartano and Kannelmäki, Malmi, Mellunkylä and Meri-Rastila will continue until 2035.
Author: Kirsi Riipinen
