The City of Helsinki will start planning the implementation of the renovation of the Lapinlahti Hospital as its own project. The planned renovation will concern the main building of the former hospital, the Venetsia building as well as the maintenance and sauna buildings.
The culturally and historically valuable Lapinlahti Hospital has been waiting for a renovation for a long time. The concept competition held five years ago aimed at a solution where the property would have been renovated mainly with private funds. The City Board rejected the sales plan at that time, and the buyer candidate, who was involved in the further planning, subsequently withdrew from the project altogether.
Extensive condition surveys carried out last year confirm that the renovation of the buildings must be actively promoted or their preservation is threatened. Some of the facilities are no longer in use, due to safety risk.
In order to renovate the building, the Urban Environment Division is preparing a proposal for political decision-making according to which the renovation should be carried out with public funds.
Aim is to start renovation in 2026
In 2020, the Helsinki City Board outlined how the Lapinlahti area should be developed. Based on the decision, an operating concept was drawn up for the future use of the former hospital. According to the concept, Lapinlahti would continue to have facilities for mental health and cultural activities as well as non-governmental organisations. In addition to these, a hostel is planned for the premises.
As the planning of the renovation progresses, the City of Helsinki will investigate what kind of an operating concept could be implemented for the hospital as the city’s own project, i.e. for which purpose the premises will be used after the renovation. The previously created concept is used as a starting point for planning.
In connection with the planning, it will also be decided what the ownership and operating model of the Lapinlahti buildings will be after the renovation.
Planning the renovation also involves deciding whether the Lapinlahti Hospital will be renovated all at the same time or in stages. The goal is that the current operation on the premises can continue until the renovation.
If the planning proceeds according to the planned schedule, the Helsinki City Council can make a decision-in-principle on the implementation of the renovation project in 2025. The aim is that the renovation could begin after more detailed planning in autumn 2026.
In connection with the planning, the intention is to also make a change to the detailed plan, because in the current plan, the premises are assigned to social and health activities.
Schedule
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2020
- The city planned the sale of the Lapinlahti buildings and organised a competition for the matter, which was won by NREP Oy.
- The City Board rejected the competition proposal and set new guidelines for the development of the area. NREP and the winning proposal had to be included in further investigations, where applicable.
Decision of the City Board dated 22 June 2020 (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
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2021
- The investigative working group published its proposal for measures on how the buildings in the Lapinlahti area should be developed.
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2022
- The city started a new planning work and gathered the views of current operators and residents for the development of the area.
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2023
- The city prepared the concept plan for the buildings together with NREP and other operators. NREP withdrew from the project after concept planning.
Concept plan 9 March 2023 (pdf, in Finnish).
Kerrokantasi online survey 10 March–2 April 2023 (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
- Completion of condition surveys of the buildings.
- Public event on condition surveys and the planning situation 5 October 2023.
- Event presentation 5 October 2023 (pdf, 15 MB, in Finnish)
- Summary of questions and answers of the public event 5 October 2023, (pdf, in Finnish)
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2024
- Preliminary planning of the renovation project begins.
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2025
- The City Council decides whether to start the actual project planning on the basis of the preliminary plan
- Project planning for the renovation and a proposal to the City Council to approve the project plan.
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2026
- Construction planning
- Renovation begins
Frequently asked questions
The City of Helsinki rented the main building of the Lapinlahti Hospital to Osuuskunta Lapinlahden tilajakamo and Lapinlahden Lähde Oy in 2015. The premises of the hospital area currently house operators engaged in the mental health, culture and well-being sector. Among other things, the area has cafes, a sauna, a handicraft shop, a flea market and a museum of mental health work.
The buildings in Lapinlahti were used as a hospital until 2006, when psychiatric care was centralised in the renovated Hesperia and Aurora Hospitals. The last hospital operations were moved away from Lapinlahti in 2008.
Yes. The hospital’s main building, the Venetsia building and the sauna building are in poor condition and need a thorough renovation. Among other things, the sewer system and building technology must be modernised and harmful substances have to be removed from the structures. The city plans the renovation in cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The buildings are first carefully inspected in order to draw up the renovation plans. The most recent condition surveys were completed in 2023. If necessary, more surveys will be carried out throughout the planning of the renovation.
No. No additional construction is planned for the protected park surrounding the hospital. The park has, for the most part, been maintained in recent years.
In connection with the renovation project, the park’s special natural values and history are taken into account, such as the trees planted by hospital patients and the area of the endangered Depressaria chaerophylli, also considering the types of events that can be arranged in the park without endangering its natural values.
The intention is to also make a change to the detailed plan in connection with renovation planning, as the premises are assigned to social and health activities in the current plan. The exact schedule of the planning is not yet known.
Main picture: Garden of Lapinlahti Hospital. Photo: Yiping Feng ja Ling Ouyang, Helsinki Partners.