A two-stage architectural competition was held for the design of the new Malmi Hospital in cooperation with the Finnish Association of Architects. The aim of the competition was to design a hospital that promotes rehabilitation, which combines nature, the patients, their loved ones, personnel, ease of use and innovativeness into a sustainable whole. Rehabilitation will play a significant role at the new Malmi Hospital.
12 architect groups were selected for the first stage of the competition, five of whom reached the second stage. The winner of the competition was Architect Group Reino Koivula Oy and Harris Kjisik Arkkitehdit Oy with their proposal, Puutarhat. Other prizes went to these proposals: Malmikko and Kylässä. In addition, the jury decided to award honourable mentions to Salvos and Verso.
The entries were evaluated on the basis of how a functional the hospital has been made and how the plan integrates with the existing hospital and the surrounding cityscape. The jury's experts also assessed, among other things, the conditions, dimensioning and technical feasibility of the hospital's operations, as well as the architecture. All proposals received a scope calculation and preliminary cost estimate. In the second phase of the competition, the jury also assessed the carbon footprint and energy efficiency of the buildings.
“The first phase of the competition showed how multifaceted and challenging this design target was, and the competition works tried to solve that in very different ways,” says Jarmo Raveala, chair of the jury, of the City of Helsinki.
The plan chosen as the winner of the competition was the best way to combine the hospital's operational goals, humane and approachable scale, and the nature theme of the hospital. In addition, the architectural quality of the winning design was particularly high.
The competition proposals can be viewed at an exhibition on 8–15 November 2024 in the Helsinki Urban Environment Division’s office lobby, at Työpajankatu 8.
Hospital for patients and their loved ones, with seamless access to public transport
Malmi will become the second operating site of the Helsinki City Hospital and more hospital operations will be consolidated there in accordance with the 2030 hospital district vision for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. It is easy to get to the hospital, which will be built along good access to public transport, and easy to return home as well. The construction of the new hospital is expected to begin in 2029, and the facility is expected to be completed in 2032-33.
The new Malmi Hospital will be a place that promotes rehabilitation, with a focus on acute geriatric treatment and rehabilitation.
The new Malmi Hospital is for the patients and their loved ones. Loved ones, volunteers and third sector workers are seen as a positive asset for patient well-being and their presence and activities at the hospital are supported in various ways.
