Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2014 | Page 34

Photo: K2S Architects

City of Helsinki wants to realise a real Olympic Park which supports and adds to the appeal of a modern new stadium.
na here, even though the plans are only tentative at this point.

West Harbour 2.0
But let’s get back to the shoreline for a moment. The City organised an open international ideas competition in 2011 in order
to envision how to best develop Helsinki’s
South Harbour – and there were some intriguing ideas that came out of the process.
Even the mighty Guggenheim wants to put
their new museum right here.

But no matter what sort of development is to take place in South Harbour, one
has to proceed with extreme caution, since
the shoreline is a national treasure all in itself. The harbour – or the western part of it –
is also a very active hub for passenger traffic.
In fact, the West Harbour passenger
port is a competing entry at MIPIM Awards
2014 competition. Project Manager Outi
Säntti explains that the growing passenger
port at the West Harbour urban development
area will strengthen the Helsinki – Tallinn
‘Twin city’ concept.

“By 2030, the port will serve ten million ferry passengers and the West Harbour
will feature 22,000 new residents and 10,000
new jobs,” Säntti lays down the plan.
According to the plans, the new-andimproved West Harbour will have 100,000
square metres of hotels and offices. A brand
new landmark – the Wave Hotel – will connect the old passenger terminal with the new
one.
The modernisation of the old terminal
will kick off in 2015–2016 and should take
a couple of years. There were three consul-

In West Harbour a brand new landmark – the Wave Hotel – will connect the old passenger terminal with the new one.

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