Espoo House and new housing planned in Espoon keskus
The former administrative building area in Espoon keskus will be renewed. Espoo House will be a multifunctional building to serve the residents, decision-makers and city administration. The area is to get housing, and pedestrian and cycling connections will be improved.
Espoo House is part of the more extensive development of the Espoon keskus area. The architectural competition for the area was won by a proposal called Kohtaamisia, which was also the public’s favourite. Planning will now continue based on the winning proposal. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, and the building is to be commissioned in 2029. Espoo House will be located on the site of the demolished Virastotalo 2, north of the station area, with new residential construction and services planned in the vicinity.
Espoo House will strengthen the identity of the area
Espoo House’s distinctive high-end architecture will strengthen the identity of Espoon keskus going forward. The multi-purpose building provides a basis for a sense of community. Espoo House will bring resident services, decision-making and city administration under one roof. This arrangement allows for better interaction and participation between the residents, elected officials and city personnel.
The transport connections and pedestrian and bicycle lanes will be improved.
“This will also bring the nearby medieval cathedral and the surrounding Espoonjoki cultural landscape closer to people,” says architect Sonja Sahlsten from Espoo City Planning Department.
Accessibility will be considered in planning the connections, and the old, large park areas nearby will be integrated into the urban environment.
“The new buildings and the new urban environment, together with the old, cultural-historical landscape, form an attractive and urban city centre with seamless transport connections from the station through the entire area.”
New housing and services for a comfortable city centre
Besides Espoo House, the area is to have new housing for about 600 residents. The planning pays special attention to the safety of the environment.
The plan includes new business premises and services to enliven the cityscape. “The street level is to get grocery store premises long due on the north side of the track. There will also be street-level speciality store and cafe premises,” says Mikko Kivinen, Project Director of the Urban Environment Division.
The development requires an amendment to the detailed plan. The participation and assessment scheme (PAS) to amend the Virastopiha detailed plan will be announced on 8 November 2023. The PAS and the preparatory materials will be available for review between 13 November and 13 December 2023. The opinions of the residents, landowners, entrepreneurs and other participants will be included in the planning material. A planning walk will be arranged on 29 November 2023, with more detailed information to be provided on the plan website.
The Virastopiha planning project will also be presented at the regional residents’ evening of Central Espoo on 15 November 2023 at Entresse Library. The event will cover the area’s current plans more extensively and provide an opportunity to discuss with the planners.
The preparation of the plan proposal begins after the public review of the participation and assessment scheme. The plan proposal will be discussed by the City Planning Committee in 2024. The City Planning Committee decides on making the plan proposal available for public review.
The City Planning Department will inform this through an announcement, on the plan website https://www.espoo.fi/en/projects/administrative-centre-and-espoo-house and by mail to the nearest neighbours.