Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2011 | Page 53

Libeskind has progressed very
smoothly.
“His vision is astonishing,” Estovirta comments.
Estovirta acknowledges
that bringing in a world-class
architect is not something you
can do every day.
“Through Libeskind’s expertise, we gain outsider insights which, ultimately, benefit the end-users of the premises.
This project is so crucial from
the perspective of Tampere’s
image alone that this type of
involvement is justified.”
The vision images are now
complete, but collaboration with
Libeskind continues on. In addition, there is a local architectural agency, KSOY, involved in
the project.
“KSOY is a local player
who knows the city well, and
has special expertise with regards to railway-related issues,”
says Mikko Leinonen.

More from the Core
In Hämeenlinna, similar plans
have been hatching for the better
part of the decade. City of Hämeenlinna wanted to do something to revitalise the downtown
already in 2002.
NCC was chosen as the

developer of the downtown area
in 2003. In the spring of 2005,
an architectural competition was
held to launch the planning of
the area. The competition winner was APRT’s proposal called
Torit (Market Places). The title
refers to the two large, open
public spaces which are to be
integrated into core dynamic of
the project. Here, too, the plan
features a deck construction.
In accordance to the winning proposal, downtown Hämeenlinna will be expanded
from promenades directly into a shopping centre, making it
easy to reach on foot, by bike or
by car. The Hämeenlinna Centre will become a new “meeting place” for the citizens of Hämeenlinna and establish a true
heart for the surrounding community.
Bogged down by appeals
for a couple of years, the project is now back on track. Senior Developer Markus Salmela
from NCC is expecting that the
kick-off for construction will
take place in April:
“All and all, the construction will take about three
years. The Hämeenlinna Centre is scheduled for completion in spring 2014 and also at
least some of the accompanying
residential buildings should be

ready that same year. Residential construction reaches conclusion by 2015.”

Commercial
Attraction
Put into numbers, this means retail premises to the tune of approximately 30,000 floor square
metres, with residential adding
another 20,000 floor square metres. With such numbers, Hämeenlinna Centre will be a commercial powerhouse regionally,
and noteworthy even on a national scale.
And while logistics is a
main issue in Tampere, it is of no
less significance in Hämeenlinna, where the Helsinki-Tampere
motorway must be worked into
the plans. Presently splitting the
city in west and east factions,
the motorway will be covered
by a deck in the coming years.
“This requires a lot planning, so that we can find construction solutions that won’t interfere with the flow of traffic,”
Salmela says.
Once completed, however, the entire downtown area has
been changed dramatically. Unit
Director Jukka Manninen comments that the visibility of the
shopping centre – and the en-

tire downtown – will receive a
strong boost due to the project.
“Anyone driving from
Helsinki to Tampere will notice
it, and perhaps want to check it
out.”
Manninen also points out
that the two projects are similar
in the sense that they “shape the
entire cityscape”.
“There’s totally new type
of city space that is being generated in both places.”

Size Matters
In addition, both projects are
also quite attractive from the
viewpoint of investors, both foreign and domestic. This kind of
projects tend to be high-profile
cases anyway, but Manninen
comments that Hämeenlinna is
no less appealing as a prospect.
“Whenever there is a shopping centre located in the middle
of a community, it is appealing
to the investors. We feel that the
Hämeenlinna Centre is a product that fits the market very well
– it is just the right size.”
Another thing that the investors often crave these days
is green edge. With these projects, the mindset is decidedly
environmental: both are realised
according to exacting BREEAM
qualifications. b

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