Homes will be built for about 30,000 residents on a 170-hectare waterfront area in the eastern part of the inner city, which is expected to create over 10,000 jobs.
Kalasatama characteristics
Kalasatama provides urban, dense housing close to services and public transport. The area has excellent transport connections in many directions. The sea is ever-present, and you can walk across Isoisänsilta bridge to reach the Mustikkamaa recreation area. When construction in the area is complete, a six-kilometre coastal route will meander along the shores of Kalasatama.
Homes in Kalasatama are mainly located in blocks of flats, but the area will also feature urban detached houses. Eight high-risers will be built in connection with the Redi shopping centre, seven of which are intended for housing. The high-risers will have 20–37 levels, and the highest of the buildings will reach a height of more than 130 metres. Floating homes are designed for the northern section of Verkkosaari. There is an ideal home for everyone in the diverse housing options in Kalasatama.
In order to make residents feel more at home in the area, we are creating environmental art around Kalasatama. Environmental art may be permanent (70%), temporary (15%) or come in the form of events (15%).
The environmental art project is steered by the City of Helsinki City Executive Office in cooperation with Helsinki Art Museum HAM, the Urban Environment Division and the Culture and Leisure Division. The environmental art is financed by a premium charged to developers in Kalasatama and based on the number of floor square metres.
Zones and plans
The detailed local plans determine an area’s land use. For example, they show where we can build housing, offices and parks, or where the roads and other pathways are.
Construction
We started construction in Kalasatama in 2009 and we will continue the project until the end of the 2030s. Kalasatama is one of the largest developments in Helsinki. The first residents moved to Kalasatama in autumn 2012.
The Kalasatama area has been used for industrial and port operations since the late 1800s. The harbour was moved to Vuosaari towards the end of 2008. Some small-scale industry still remains in the area. The shore area has been expanded by using fill-up soil. The new areas in Kalasatama have been named after islands, such as Kyläsaari, Iso Verkkosaari, Pieni Verkkosaari, Sompasaari and Hanasaari, which have been replaced by the current Kalasatama district.
• Loviseholminpuisto Park was completed in June 2024.
• The final supplementary work on Kalasatamanpuisto Park, which has been built in phases since 2015, in the southern section of the area was completed in 2024.
• The construction of Kaasutehtaankatu and Kaasutehtaankenttä field in Suvilahti will begin in late 2025.
• The preconstruction and street construction in the southern section of Nihti is ongoing and will continue for several years to come.
• The preconstruction and street construction of the detailed plan area in Hermanninranta will start in summer 2025.
• Housing construction in Nihti and the northern section of Verkkosaari continues. The first residents moved to Nihti in February 2024.
• It is estimated that approximately 700 homes will be completed in Kalasatama in 2025; more than 11,000 people currently live in Kalasatama.
• The fifth tower of Redi, the Horisontti building containing commercial premises, will be completed in April 2025.
• The planning of the Hermanninranta school is ongoing, with commissioning planned for 2029.
Traffic connections
Kalasatama is easy to reach by public transport, bike and car alike. Once the Crown Bridges Light Rail has been completed, transport connections will improve even further. The aim is to start operating the light rail line in 2027. In the future, you will be able to walk or cycle across the Crown Bridges to reach both Kruunuvuorenranta and Hakaniemi.
Services
The local services in Kalasatama are excellent. The area already includes a school, several daycare centres and a health and well-being centre. We will construct more basic services in the area as the population grows. The impressive selection offered by Redi and Teurastamo caters to the residents of Kalasatama. In the coming years, Suvilahti will develop into an event hub.
Contact information
Name
Tuomas Hakala
Title
Project Director
Phone number
09 310 37205(Link starts a phone call)
Description
Kalasatama neighbourhood construction
Name
Petri Hoppula
Title
Project Engineer
Phone number
09 310 36037(Link starts a phone call)
Description
Kalasatama neighbourhood construction