The improvement needs of the Market Square have been surveyed in cooperation with entrepreneurs, city residents and various actors in recent years. The needs are related to, among other things, moving around the market square and its surroundings, the appearance of the area, as well as market trade and water traffic.
The Market Square’s local detailed plan dates back to the 1890s and is not well suited for today. A change to the local detailed plan is now underway to ensure the preservation of important buildings and valuable squares as well as the desired reforms to make the use of the area smoother. The plan area covers the Market Square and the Old Market Hall with its quays as well as Havis Amanda square. In the future, the areas will form a coherent whole.
Towards clearer open squares
The area will remain open and maritime to attract residents and tourists to visit and spend time there. One of the goals of the amendment is to clarify the squares and how to move around in the area. This is done by improving pedestrian and cycling routes as well as by increasing accessibility and safe crossings.
The needs of market trade and water transport are studied
Trade on the Market Square and the water traffic, which is becoming electric in accordance with the Helsinki Maritime Strategy, need a variety of technical systems, such as electricity and water and waste management. The current arrangements are in many respects outdated and insufficient in terms of their use volumes. They have emerged from need over the years. They have not been designed as a single entity that would take into account the cultural-historical dignity and appearance of the area.
In connection with the local detailed planning, studies will be carried out to see whether the Market Square could have a service building that combines the functions and to examine how the systems needed by electric water traffic could be placed in the valuable environment in a suitable manner.
Focus on the area’s historical values – the Old Market Hall is protected
The role of the Market Square as a site of cultural-historical importance is one of the starting points of planning. The aim is to preserve the most significant buildings, waterfront walls and the maritime character of the area. Suomenlinna ferry pavilion, the bridge warden’s booth, the Old Market Hall, the Havis Amanda statue and the Stone of the Empress are protected in the plan.
The plan guides the quality of market square and recreational furnishing, surface materials and technical solutions to suit the value and nature of the area. In practice, this means, for example, that the paving stones are restored and saved. In addition, the planning pays more attention than usual to how, for example, waste points are placed on the valuable square.
We are now collecting opinions on the participation and evaluation plan
You can review the participation and evaluation plan of the local detailed plan from 29 November to 20 December at hel.fi/suunnitelmat (in Finnish)
Written opinions on the participation and evaluation plan and the preparatory material must be sent to the City of Helsinki Registry by 20 December 2024.
Development of the Market Square
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Background checks
Various studies have been prepared as background for the plan and development work. These include, for example, a review of the Market Square’s city structure history (from 2016), a traffic review (from 2017), a water traffic review (from 2018) and an operational review of the Market Square (from 2018 and 2019).
Planning principles were compiled for the Market Square together with the entrepreneurs, stakeholders and residents of the area in 2016. The planning principles outline the development guidelines.
Plans, decisions and studies concerning the planning area can be found in the map service.
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Previous stages of the planning work
The local detailed plan work began in 2018. After the plan area was revised, the participation and evaluation plan was updated and available for examination together with the draft plan in 2019. The participation and evaluation plan defines why the local detailed plan is drawn up, how the planning proceeds and at what stage it can be influenced.
Over the years, the Market Square has undergone rapid changes to improve the transport connections and clarify the space. The most visible improvement is likely the removal of parking areas for other residential use on Keisariluodonlaituri and Lyypekinlaituri piers. The changes reduced car traffic through the market areas and thus improved the safety of the area. The space that was freed up also enabled various experiments carried out in cooperation with the manager of the market square Helsinki City Premises Ltd, such as the public recreational furnishing on Keisarinluodonlaituri pier.
Several other planning projects are underway in the immediate vicinity of the area. The Old Market Hall area has previously been examined as part of the planning of Makasiiniranta and Olympiaranta, located to the south of the area.
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Revised participation and evaluation plan for the local detailed plan available for examination
The participation and evaluation plan will available for examination at the end of 2024. In it, the Market Square’s local detailed plan area has been extended to the south, to the area surrounding the Old Market Hall. The new plan area is bordered by the Makasiiniranta plan area, which ensures a uniform area of updated local detailed plans for the South Harbour area.
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Plan proposal
The plan proposal is estimated to be completed and presented to the Urban Environment Committee in 2026. At the same time, comments received during the preparation of the plan will be answered in the interaction report. City residents have the opportunity to file a reminder of the proposal, and authorities will be asked for statements.
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Rapid improvements before renovation
Rapid improvement measures are planned for the market area in the coming years, such as improving waste collection and repairing the indentation on the square. In addition, there will be more benches and seating.
The Market Square will be renovated. A more detailed renovation plan will solve how the water and waste management and electrical and telecommunications systems will be built on the square in practice. In addition, potential electric charging stations for water traffic, toilets and staff facilities for the area’s users will be planned, and lighting will be improved. Renovation is planned for the turn of the 2030s.
You can also find this page at hel.fi/marketsquare.