Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2014 | Page 35

Kalasatama is poised to become the first true Smart City in Finland. tancies that were deployed in making the best possible blueprint for the area, as Finland’s biggest passenger harbour deserves some special attention. Naturally, the fact that the city centre is only a javelin’s throw away is an important attraction for tourism. The City believes that the new urban passenger port will enable high quality services as part of the diverse and colourful Helsinki. carbon or even carbon neutral urban design and construction. In the same vein, the waste management of the entire Jätkäsaari area is carried out using the innovative and environmentally friendly technique of automated vacuum collection. This system involves separating different types of waste and then transporting it at high speeds through underground pipes. Jätkäsaari Gains Momentum Kalasatama: Smart City Moving west from here, we find Jätkäsaari, a new urban area located just 10 minutes from the city centre. Schools, day-care centres, a social centre, a public library and a sports centre are all in the cards for this new neighbourhood. The new seaside community promises to be an interesting mix of urban and marine environments. Green ideology is very much in the DNA of Jätkäsaari, as the area is planned according to the principles of sustainable development. An effective public transport network, incorporating both trams and the metro, will service this compact urban structure. Also, the commitment to light traffic runs to the core here – quite literally, too. The bicycle route Baana uses an ancient railroad canyon to speed cyclists straight to downtown in mere minutes. Outi Säntti says that Baana has been very well received by the locals: “People are very happy that West Helsinki has been linked to downtown in such an effective way,” she says, adding that thousands of cyclists utilise the “Low Line” daily in the summer months. Jätkäsaari is also home to the ‘City Block for Sustainable Construction’ project where SRV and VVO are developing energy-efficient, innovative solutions for low- In addition to Jätkäsaari, the other former port area which is now open for redevelopment is Kalasatama. Located along the eastern shores of the core city area, Kalasatama is just minutes away from downtown. Again, there is the beautiful maritime milieu and Project Manager Hannu Asikainen is convinced that, upon completion, Kalasatama will be an amazing area for everyone. Effective public transport (spearheaded by the Kalasatama metro station) and the central location make Kalasatama an alluring prospect for residents and companies alik