Insights from the Project Director

Leppävaara is the third-busiest public transport hub in the capital region after Helsinki Central Railway Station and Pasila. The urban district offers housing, businesses, services and nature. The centre of Leppävaara is about to undergo major changes as a result of the Leppävaara idea competition. The purpose was to find an overall plan for the area north of the railway tracks. The winning idea was chosen in April 2024.

“The development of the Leppävaara centre is by far the most significant project in the area in the near future. It also involves the extension of the Sello shopping centre and the reorganisation of public transport,” says Project Director Mika Rantala.

The winner of the idea competition, Walk Around, was conceived by the architecture company Arco,  construction company YIT and engineering and consultancy company Ramboll. The winning entry proposes a central area that has services, housing, jobs, events and recreational opportunities.

In the proposal, a deck structure would be built over Turuntie, with business premises and residential housing on top. This would connect the northern and southern parts of Leppävaara, which are divided by railway tracks and Turuntie.

“The winning proposal strengthens Leppävaara’s role among major urban centres,” says Rantala.

Leppävaara is the largest of Espoo’s greater areas in terms of population. It is already larger than many cities, such as Joensuu or Kouvola.

“There are now some 80,000 residents, and it is predicted that the 100,000 limit will be reached in 2040,” says Rantala, who started working as a project director for Leppävaara in 2014.

Previously, as of 2008, he worked as a development architect for the City of Espoo. Before his job with the city, he worked as an architect in private firms and was involved in designing the Kamppi area in Helsinki.

The West Railway is also important for Leppävaara.

“Leppävaara is already an important centre for services, but the future Espoo Rail Line and West Railway will increase the demand for services significantly.”

The West Railway, formerly known as the One-hour Turku Rail Link, is a new partly two-track rail connection planned between Helsinki and Turku. The construction of the Espoo Rail Line, i.e. two new tracks between Leppävaara and Kauklahti, is already underway.

Other key projects mentioned by Rantala include the Leppävaara campus, the future of the Vermo racetrack, and the light rail line planned between Matinkylä and Leppävaara.

“In the best case scenario, the light rail line could continue from Leppävaara to Myyrmäki in Vantaa,” says Rantala, who, in addition to Leppävaara, is responsible for Kera and northern Espoo.

The area where the Laurea University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish School of Watchmaking are located will become a campus of around 5,000 students with the planned arrival of the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Leppävaaran lukio.

The Vermo racetrack is being developed into an arena suitable for residents’ use and major events.

According to Rantala, the best thing about Leppävaara is its versatility and functionality and the active and constructive cooperation with residents.

“There is a good balance between housing, jobs and services. The area also offers many opportunities for recreational and cultural activities. The district is being developed in a comprehensive way taking into account the current residents. We want to develop Leppävaara into the most versatile hub for housing and services in the capital region.”

Espoonlahti is a rapidly growing area in southwestern Espoo. Espoonlahden keskus, the centre of Espoonlahti, is one of the most important growth areas in Espoo. The long-term goal is to build a dense and lively urban centre with housing and a wide range of services. Public transport connections to and from Espoonlahti improved significantly in December 2022 when the metro started operating in the area.

“The metro has played a key role in the development of the area,” says Project Director Hilkka Julkunen.

Julkunen has worked as the Project Director for Espoonlahti since the summer of 2022. Before the current position, Julkunen worked in the City of Espoo’s Building Site Services for about 20 years, serving as the Manager of Building Site Services for the last five years.

In addition to Espoonlahti, Julkunen is in charge of the development of Kivenlahti.

The range of services available in Espoonlahti improved in March 2022 when the Lippulaiva shopping centre opened its doors. The shopping centre also includes the new Lippulaiva Library. Tähystäjän päiväkoti, a new day care centre with premises for both Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking children, will open in Espoonlahti in late 2024.

Many new residential buildings are under construction in the centre of Espoonlahti. Julkunen mentions the Mårtensbro and Maininkipuisto residential areas as key projects.

Mårtensbro is located in the immediate vicinity of the Lippulaiva shopping centre, and the first residential construction projects are expected to start in late 2024 or early 2025. The area will have homes for some 2,000 people.

Maininkipuisto will be a green urban area. The residential buildings will also include street-level commercial premises. Once completed, Maininkipuisto will have some 750 residents.

“Espoonlahti offers excellent services, so I am happy that more homes are also being built in the area,” Julkunen says.

Julkunen sees great potential in Kivenlahti, especially once the planned metro centre is completed. The centre will be connected to the western entrance of the metro station and include premises for commercial activities and the Laurea University of Applied Sciences. The metro centre is scheduled for completion in the autumn of 2027. The plans also include new residential buildings, but most of them will not be built until after the completion of the metro centre.

In late 2024, the hybrid arena Hype will open on the southern side of Länsiväylä, providing excellent facilities for sports and cultural events.

According to Julkunen, Kiviruukki on the northern side of Länsiväylä is a key development area in the Kivenlahti area. Based on the current partial master plan, Kiviruukki will have 9,000 residents and 3,000 jobs in the future. The area will be gradually developed over the next two decades. The first residential blocks will be built in Tiilismäenrinne and on Tiiliskivenpolku in the southeastern part of the area.

Kiviruukki is also being developed into a centre of circular economy innovations. Current projects include the Cleantech Garden campus where VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Omnia and the City of Espoo will develop new circular economy innovations together with businesses. A new general upper secondary school (Länsi-Espoon lukio) is also being planned on the same premises.

The city’s two-year project Circular Economy Hub in Kiviruukki aims to develop a hub and cooperation network for circular economy innovations, business and learning.

“Kiviruukki’s future looks very promising. I hope that our partners join us in developing the area and future solutions,” Julkunen says.

Espoon keskus will develop significantly during the current decade. Mikko Kivinen, Project Director for the area, names the Espoo House, the Espoontori shopping centre extension and the development of its surrounding area, and the Espoo Rail Line as the most important projects in the near future.

The Espoo Rail Line will add two new tracks between Leppävaara and Kauklahti, alongside the existing tracks. In addition to improving the punctuality and efficiency of public transport, the rail line will have a positive impact on other projects.

“Other projects will also be carried out in Espoon keskus. The rail line will bring new housing, jobs and services and add value to the area. Everything is connected,” Kivinen says.

The Espoo Rail Line is due for completion in 2028 and an important step towards emission-free mobility. 

The Espoo House, a multipurpose building serving residents, will be built on the northern side of the railway station. The building will also include spaces for city administration and services as well as cultural and commercial services.

The city organised an architecture competition to find a design for the Espoo House. The winning entry, ‘Kohtaamisia’ (‘Encounters’ in English), was submitted by the Finnish-Danish consortium Cobe + Lundén Architecture Company. The winner is a wooden building. Located next to the Vaakunatori square, the Espoo House will offer a view of the medieval Espoo Cathedral, the most important historical building in Espoo.

The construction of the Espoo House is currently scheduled to begin in 2026, in which case the building could be inaugurated in 2029.

“In addition to the Espoo House, the northern side of the station will also be developed in other ways. The area around the Espoo House will offer new housing for almost 600 people, restaurant services and new business premises,” Kivinen says.

New homes will also be built on the southern side of the railway station. The plan amendment related to the Espoontori shopping centre extension enables infill construction, bringing 250 new residents to the area.

“Housing construction in Espoon keskus will be more active than it has been in recent years, as long as the construction industry is able to overcome the current difficult situation.”

Kivinen estimates that homes will be built for about 3,000 people near the Espoo railway station over the next ten years.

The Espoontori extension will bring more services to the area, as the detailed plan amendment will enable the construction of a hypermarket and other new business premises in the immediate vicinity of the station. A new public transport terminal with covered platforms and waiting areas will be built between the shopping centre and the tracks.

Kivinen has worked as the Project Director for Espoon keskus since 2012. He has a degree in architecture and first started working for the City of Espoo back in 2001. At the City Planning Department, his job as an area architect focused on Vanha-Espoo, which also includes Espoon keskus. In other words, he is very familiar with the area. Before joining the city organisation, he worked for private design firms.

He says that the best thing in his area is its constant development.

“History is present in Espoon keskus, but so is the future. Something is happening all the time. When one project ends, another starts.”

He encourages partners to get involved in the development of Espoon keskus.

“Now is the time to act. The future is in Espoon keskus.” 

The construction of Suurpelto began in 2007. Suurpelto, a growth area near Ring II and Turunväylä, currently has a population of about 6,300 people, expected to rise to 15,000 by 2050.

“Suurpelto is a growing district with the advantages of a central location and good transport connections,” says Petri Vainio, the Project Director of Suurpelto.

In addition to Suurpelto, Vainio is also responsible for the development of Sinimäki, Sepänkylä and Puolarmetsä.

As key projects for the development of Suurpelto, Vainio mentions, among other things, the detailed planning projects in Lakeamäki, Vassholm and Nygrannas.

New residential blocks with local services and recreational areas complementing Central Park are being planned in the Lakeamäki area in the northern part of Suurpelto. Workplaces and sports activities will be located along Turunväylä. A new Kyläsepän koulu primary school has also been planned for the area.

Detached houses and apartment buildings are being planned for the Vassholm area.

Nygrannas east of Ring II is being planned as a cosy and natural residential area consisting of detached houses and low-rise block of flats.

“The development of Suurpelto will also take account of the local nature. All areas will be well connected to Espoo Central Park.”

In addition to the residential construction planned for the peripheral areas, the central area of Suurpelto will also be developed in the coming years. Development projects in the central area include the expansion of the Suuris shopping centre and the development of service blocks in the area, which will be carried out together with future partners.

“There are plots in Suurpelto centre that can be flexibly re-planned according to the applicant’s wishes,” Vainio says.

Signs of future potential can also be found in the Espoo Master Plan 2060. The plan proposal proposes the construction of light rail lines from Matinkylä via Suurpelto to Leppävaara and from Tapiola via Suurpelto to Espoon keskus. The new light rail lines would connect Suurpelto with Espoo’s comprehensive rail network.

“The area has many pre-planned, excellent plots for blocks of flats and detached houses. The growing city district will continue to need diverse and high-quality housing construction in the future. I hope that prospective partners will contact me so that we can develop Suurpelto into an area that serves both residents and companies,” Vainio says.

Known as a garden city, Tapiola is the best-known urban centre in Espoo. Over the years, it has been proudly shown to royalty, presidents and politicians. Last year marked 70 years since the foundation stone of Tapiola was laid. The area has maintained its attractiveness, which is reflected in housing prices that have increased in recent years despite the rise in interest rates and other developments in the housing market.

Tapiola offers a wide range of commercial services, culture, sports and housing. Nature is also nearby, and the conveniently located area has excellent public transport connections. 

The metro has played a key role in the development of Tapiola. The metro line extension between Ruoholahti and Matinkylä started operating in 2017.

“The public transport decisions made in the past are very important for the area. Thanks to the metro and the bus terminal, we have commercial services and housing in an urban environment. The people who created the plans back in the day did a wonderful job,” says Jarmo Kulmala, who has been the Project Director for Tapiola since the beginning of the year.

Kulmala has been working with Tapiola for nearly ten years. He joined the city organisation in 2015 as a project manager of the area. The following year, he also became the Project Director for the Niittykumpu area. He has previously worked in the private sector and holds a Master of Science degree in technology.

In recent decades, Tapiola has undergone major changes, and its development continues. Kulmala says that the changes have been necessary as the centre was at risk of deteriorating.

Kulmala mentions the new theatre building, the Tapiola swimming pool and the sports park as the most important projects in the near future.

New facilities will be built for Espoo City Theatre in the extension of the Espoo Cultural Centre. New business, office and service premises and apartments will also be built around Kulttuuriaukio.

“If everything goes as planned, the theatre may be completed in 2028.”

The swimming pool building designed by Aarne Ervi will be renovated with respect for the original architecture. The City of Espoo will carry out a new tendering process for the renovation project, as the previous contract related to the swimming pool renovation and extension was terminated in November last year.

The renovation of the Tapiola sports park and the construction of the new stadium could be completed in 2028 if the project moves forward in the political decision-making system this spring. The new football stadium to be built in the sports park will make it possible to organise international games and major events. The park will also have services and housing.

There are many temporary routes in Tapiola due to the construction sites. In the future, Itätuulenkuja will be fully covered from Etelätuulentie almost all the way to Tapiolantie, making it easier to walk between Merituulentie and Itätuulenkuja. The decks will be built depending on the completion of the housing construction projects along the street.

Near the Ainoa shopping centre, there are housing projects that have been under way for a long time. The Tapiola tennis park will also be replaced by housing. The tennis park’s lease will expire at the end of 2028.

Kulmala says that construction work will continue in Tapiola until the 2030s.

“I hope that our residents have patience. Major projects will continue to affect those moving around in the area. Once the major housing projects are completed, the surrounding street areas can be finished, we will get rid of temporary traffic arrangements and it will be easier to get from one place to another,” Kulmala says. 

The metro has boosted the development of Niittykumpu and resulted in the construction of many new homes and services in the area. The construction of Niittykumpu centre will be completed when the remaining planned residential blocks along Gräsantori and Merituulentie are finished. Gräsantori is a new market area on the site of a former service station, which will feature a large number of trees and shrubs and a work of art.

“I hope that the Riihitontunkulma project will complement the overall city centre project. The aim is to transform an area of mainly car dealerships into a residential block,” says Martina Jerima, Project Director for Niittykumpu.

In addition to the city centre project, she highlights the completion of the Vuoritontunkulma project. Vuoritontunkulma is the former Outokumpu office area in Niittykumpu. Nowadays, the premises of the former Outokumpu head office are home to Niittykummun koulu primary school.

“Vuoritontunkulma will be an interesting new residential environment that will be strongly connected to the environment of Niittykummun koulu.”

Of the current projects, Jerima highlights the Metsätonttu, Gräsantörmä, Niittykumpu fire station and Kappelinrinne projects.

The current housing companies in the Metsätonttu area, in the immediate vicinity of the Tapiola Sports Park, have made an initiative for a detailed plan amendment. The intention is to demolish the existing buildings, which were completed in the 1970s, and build an urban block with blocks of flats in their place.

In Gräsantörmä, the aim is to preserve jobs in the area but also to make it possible to build housing and services.

Espoo is looking for an operator for the Niittykumpu fire station to organise commercial activities in the building. The Niittykumpu fire station will move to Matinkylä when the new fire station is completed.

Residential blocks of flats are to be built in Kappelirinne for light service housing for the elderly. The dilapidated Niittykumpu chapel will be demolished.

“Niittykumpu will continue to develop, and new housing to serve people at different stages of their lives and new premises for businesses will be built in the area. This will also lead to an increase in services,” says Jerima.

In addition to Niittykumpu, Jerima is responsible for Olari, Haukilahti and Westend.

“The Haukilahti shopping centre project is a very interesting one as it will bring a good amount of new residential and commercial construction to the area on the site of the current shopping centre.”

“The great thing about the area that I am responsible for is its diverse development that respects the existing urban environment and building stock. The development of the area is promoted through excellent cooperation between the various parties involved so that the best result is achieved.”

“I hope that partners will be encouraged to get in touch so that we can work together to see how we can develop the area to better serve its residents and businesses. Everything starts with good cooperation between the different operators,” says Martina Jerima.

Keilaniemi is the home of the headquarters of several large companies and numerous smaller businesses, with a vast number of projects in preparation. There are plans to build several tall tower blocks in the area, and Keilaniemi has even been called Espoo’s Manhattan.

Antti Mäkinen, M.Sc.Eng, is Project Director for Keilaniemi. Before starting work at the City of Espoo, Mäkinen worked as a Project Director at Vuosaari Harbour. When he started as a Project Director at the City of Espoo in 2009, he was responsible for Keilaniemi, Tapiola and Otaniemi.

“At that time, the focus was very much on Tapiola, while not much was happening in Keilaniemi,” recalls Mäkinen.

The situation changed, and Keilaniemi regained its appeal as a workplace area in the late 2010s.

“In 2017, Regenero acquired the former Fortum office tower, Raade’s tooth, and renovated it into modern office premises. From there, Keilaniemi’s development took off. At the moment, there are a vast number of projects in preparation, one of which is currently under way, namely Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company’s Keilaniemen Portti business premise project.”

The premises of the wooden Keilaniemen Portti are all already rented out. The main tenant will be Metsä Group.

There is great interest from companies towards Keilaniemi and, according to Mäkinen, Keilaniemi is competing for the top spot for office premises with Helsinki city centre.

“Keilaniemi has excellent transport connections. It is easily accessible by car, metro and light rail. In addition, Keilaniemi is located in the west by the sea,” says Mäkinen.

The metro has been running in Keilaniemi since 2017, when it started operating between Ruoholahti and Matinkylä. The terminus of light rail line 15 is in Keilaniemi. The light trail tram started operating in autumn 2023 and provides a smooth transverse connection to, among other places, Leppävaara, where it connects to the City Rail Link and its future extension.

Although the interest towards the Keilaniemi area is high, the current economic situation is such that projects may not be realised quickly. In addition, hybrid work has reduced the need for space of companies. There are also plans for residential construction in Keilaniemi, but there is a temporary decline in the commencement of residential projects nationwide.

“I believe that one of the business premise projects will take off within a reasonable time. It would also be great to get the first residential project going. It may well be that residential construction will first commence on the Otaniemi side, north of Kuusisaarentie. The southern part of Otaniemi will become a predominantly residential area.”

The Norwegian company AB Invest has a planning reservation for a hotel and congress centre on the waterfront near the Keilaniemi metro station and the terminus of the light rail line. Construction will take place almost entirely on a land reclamation site.

Mäkinen says that, in order to develop Keilaniemi even further, a central parking facility will have to be built as the area does not have enough space for cars.

“The construction of a central parking facility is absolutely essential. A decision regarding this will hopefully be made this year, preferably already in the spring.”

Finnoo is a new district in southern Espoo, extending from Länsiväylä all the way to the seashore. The first residents moved to the area in the autumn of 2021. Over the next decades, Finnoo will develop into a district of 17,000 residents, where construction is based on sustainable and low-emission solutions. The metro started operating from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti in 2022, which improved public transport connections in the area.

Project Director Kimmo Leivo has been in charge of the development of the Finnoo area for over 12 years. When he started in his position, the planning of Finnoo was still in its early stages.

“In the early 2010s, an international architecture competition was organised to develop Finnoo and, based on this competition, we started creating visions and plans for the area,” Leivo says.

In addition to Finnoo, Leivo’s areas of responsibility include Matinkylä, Soukka and Kaitaa-Iivisniemi. Matinkylä has established itself as one of the five urban centres in Espoo, offering good public transport connections and a wide range of services. Matinkylä is also an important commercial hub in Espoo.

Finnoo is a unique area in Espoo – and in Finland. At the beginning of the 2000s, Finnoo was a large area without detailed plans. There are not many areas like that in the capital region.

“The city had a lot of freedom to plan the Finnoo area, as there were no significant restrictions on urban development. Most of the land was also owned by the city,” Leivo says.

Finnoo is being developed into a district with a recognisable silhouette formed by taller buildings in the centre and lower ones on the edges of the area. The Finnoo centre will be very convenient in terms of mobility, but attention is also being paid to nature.

“The east-west and north-south park areas, extending all the way to the seaside, make the urban area more pleasant for residents.”

In addition to the metro station and residential buildings, the detailed plans include reservations for two comprehensive schools and several day care centres. Commercial services will be mainly placed around the metro station, and plots suitable for business use will also be located in the northern parts of the area, close to Länsiväylä.

The southern part of Finnoo is bordered by the sea, and Leivo believes that the area has a great deal of potential for a new type of seaside housing. Finnoonsatama will become a public marina area with squares and cafés for local residents and everyone in Espoo.

“I am particularly pleased that the seaside area will be available for everyone to enjoy.”

In Matinkylä, current projects include the development of the area around Suomenlahdentie and the Swedish-speaking Mattliden centre for education and learning. Plans are also underway to further develop local sports and exercise facilities.

Infill construction is being planned along Suomenlahdentie, located on the western side of the Matinkylä metro station, which will bring more homes and services to the area.

The Mattliden school centre is used by about 1,500 people every day, ranging from children in day care to adults attending the adult education centre’s courses, and the number will increase over the coming years. The school centre will be extended, and infill construction is also being planned in the area.

“In the future, Matinkylä may be a rail transport hub as the Espoo Master Plan 2060 includes the construction of a new light rail line between Matinkylä and Leppävaara.”

Leivo hopes that partners recognise the potential in Finnoo.

“Finnoo is the last undeveloped metro station area in Espoo and has a lot of potential. You can contact me so that we can develop the area together. And be quick because good things won’t last.”