In next few years, the City of Helsinki will build modern and accessibility-compliant maintenance buildings in connection with beaches and sports parks, with facilities for both visitors and staff. The buildings will include, among other things, changing rooms, toilets, maintenance and storage facilities as well as a control room.
The first new buildings are planned for the Mustikkamaa and Haaga sports parks as well as for the Kruunuvuorenranta and Palettilampi beaches. The first ones would be built in 2026–2028.
Today, the city’s sports facilities have different kinds of maintenance buildings. The aim of the new maintenance buildings is to create uniformity and recognisability to the cityscape. All buildings will have a slatted facade and a terrace that can be closed off.
Easy to manufacture and customise
The city organised a design competition for maintenance buildings in the autumn of 2024. It was looking for a construction type that would adapt to various uses and could be implemented cost-effectively from prefabricated parts. Arkkitehtitoimisto Perko Oy won the competition with its proposal ON / OFF.
“We wanted a building that is easy to implement. Arkkitehtitoimisto Perko’s proposal is successful in terms of its functionality and the cityscape. It is also easy to customise for various purposes,” says Project Director Mari Koskinen from the City of Helsinki.
Adaptability is important as the size of the maintenance buildings, built for various purposes, can range from 100 square meters to more than 400.
Koskinen also praises the facade.
“The canopy above the entrance is convenient. For example, you can change into ice skates there without having to go inside. From our point of view, the fact that you can close it is also a positive thing to prevent disturbances and vandalism.”
