Mellunkylä

In Mellunmäki, new residential blocks are being built in Mellunpuisto at the junction of Ounasvaarantie and Pallaksentie. The area will have four blocks with a total of 17 apartment buildings and homes for around 2,000 residents. Construction on the first homes started in 2024.
New residential blocks for around 800 residents are planned in the centre of Mellunmäki. Commercial spaces are planned for the ground floors of the residential buildings. With the new central blocks, Mellunmäki will have an entirely new city-like centre. Construction of the central blocks is expected to start in 2027.

The new Bredbacka residential area is planned for Mellunmäki, which will provide homes for around 2,500 residents. The Bredbacka area is bounded by Länsimäentie and Itäväylä. The construction of Bredbacka is expected to start at the end of this decade.
New residential buildings are planned for the periphery of the shopping centre as part of the development of Kontula city centre. The new residential buildings will be integrated into the surrounding urban structure. Construction on these residential buildings is expected to start in the late 2020s at the earliest.
 

Naulakallionpuisto park, adjacent to the Mellunmäki playground, will be completely renovated and transformed into a lush and inviting green space. According to current estimates, construction of the park could start in 2028. When completed, Naulakallionpuisto park will connect the Mellunmäki playground and Ojapuisto Sports Park, forming a continuous strip of parkland.
Kontula’s sledging park will be diversified with the construction of a new exercise area and a themed playground, the theme of which will be formed through interaction with residents in 2025. Construction is planned to start in 2026.
Mellunkylä is also undergoing comprehensive renovations of its existing parks and squares. Plans are currently underway to renovate the Kipinäpuisto playground and the open areas in Kurkimäki. Renovation work on these areas will start between 2025 and 2027.

The numerous green areas, parks and forests in the Mellunkylä area offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, relaxation and even berry picking. There is also a new nature reserve being planned in the northern part of Kivikko.

Some of the most typical landscapes in Mellunkylä include pine forests and cliffs. The yards of the area’s blocks of flats are expansive and green. In addition to the sports and play parks, the area has many other parks ideal for recreation, each more charming than the last.

Aarrepuisto(Link leads to external service) is one of the jewels of Mellunkylä. The Mellunkylänpuro creek that flows through it can be admired from five different bridges, and the park features approximately 100 different species of trees, shrubs and perennials, some of which are quite rare. The benches of Aarrepuisto’s viewing platform are a great place to rest for a moment.

The new Ojapuisto Sports Park will be built in Mellunmäki. The sports park will be built on the south side of Naulakalliopuisto park, near Mellunmäki Primary School. 
The new sports park will include a multi-purpose field and a large artificial grass field that can be frozen in winter. In addition, the park will include a running track, athletics training facilities and an outdoor exercise area. Local schools will use the fields in the new sports park on weekdays, and at other times, the facilities will be available to the public. Construction of the sports park started in 2024 and is due to be completed in 2026.
Kivikko Sports Park is expanding every year. In 2024, new recreational facilities were built in Kivikko for parkour and climbing, as well as a combined skateboarding and scootering area. Planning for the next park activities is underway.
 

The Kontula shopping centre will be developed in the coming years. Negotiations for development are underway, and zoning is expected to start in 2025. 
The buildings and commercial spaces in the Kontula shopping centre are owned and leased by four companies, two of which are commercial companies, and two are subsidiaries of the City of Helsinki. 

The city owns the land in the area and leases it to the companies, and the current land lease agreements between them will expire at the end of 2025. 

Zoning can only start once the issues related to the land leases have been resolved. The plan is for zoning to start in 2025. The detailed planning will take about three years.  

In the master plan, the Kontula city centre is designated as a central activity area and can thus accommodate commercial and public services, commercial and office space, residential development, and parks. Of the public services, at least the library, youth services with their associated activities, and the swimming hall will remain in the Kontula shopping centre area. 

The city will provide information on contracts and detailed planning issues when decisions have been taken or the matter is otherwise moving forward. Businesses operating in the shopping centre area can obtain information from the relevant company boards or, in the case of leased spaces, from the owners of those spaces. 

The Laakavuori apartment block will become the new heart of Mellunmäki. The apartment block will be built on the site of the existing Laakavuori school and daycare centre. The existing buildings will be demolished. 
The Laakavuori apartment block will have a daycare centre, school, youth facilities and an adult education centre. The school will have a large gymnasium, allowing for a wide range of ball games.

The aim is for the Laakavuori block to be a versatile building that serves its residents and adapts to their needs. Demolition of the existing buildings on Laakavuori is currently estimated to start in 2027, with construction of the new buildings beginning in the same year. The goal is to finish in 2030.

In addition to the Kontula shopping centre and the Laakavuori apartment building, Mellunkylä is also undergoing major renovation and expansion projects for schools and daycare centres. Currently, planning is underway for the renewal of Daycare Kontula and the renovation and expansion of Kontula Primary School.
 

In 2020, the City sought a new direction for the development of the Kontula shopping centre area with an architectural competition organised in collaboration with the owners of the business properties of the shopping centre area.

The winner of the competition was a proposal entitled Vaellus, which was prepared by Arkkitehtitoimisto OPUS, with landscape architecture by Nomaji and technical special planning by Ramboll Finland. The winning proposal is not final, as the actual designs for the area will be prepared as part of detailed planning.

In the future, the City aims to strengthen the role of Kontula as a district centre. According to Helsinki’s new city plan, Kontula centre will be developed into a versatile area consisting of a combination of retail and public services, business premises, housing, parks, recreational and sports services and urban culture. The aim is to also diversify the range of housing options available in the area.

The accessibility of Mellunmäki will improve significantly in the future with the construction of the Vantaa light rail’s terminus in Mellunmäki. The Vantaa light rail line is due to commence operation in 2029.

The construction of the Vantaa light rail line is by no means the only development taking place in Mellunkylä centre. New housing and business premises are currently being planned for the blocks around the metro station. The Laakavuori school building will be replaced by a new Laakavuori community centre, which will house an early childhood education unit and comprehensive school, youth facilities and adult education centre facilities. Meanwhile the Mellunpuisto block project, which is located at the intersection of Ounasvaarantie and Pallaksentie, will build owner-occupied and rental flats for approximately 1,750 residents.

There is also a new residential area for 1,800 residents being planned at the intersection of Länsimäentien and Itäväylä.

Route guide(Link leads to external service)  
Vantaa Light Rail (Link leads to external service)
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