Planning for the new community center building to be constructed in Kalasatama will proceed throughout the spring and the remainder of 2023. Once completed, the building will be located at the intersection of Koksikatu and Parrulaituri, close to the water.
A new community center will soon be built in Kalasatama, featuring a versatile space designed to foster a sense of community for use by the service companies’ partner organizations and residents. The design of the new the design of the building is handled by AOR Arkkitehdit Oy, which previously designed, among other projects, the Jätkäsaari Elementary School in 2019.
Practicality and versatility guide the design
Kuutti Halinen , an architect at AOR Arkkitehdit Oy explains that the design of the community center building aims, above all, for an easily accessible and architecturally high-quality result. In the spring of 2023, a competition will be held to select a team of architects and other designers to work on the final design.
“The facilities will help foster a sense of community in the Kalasatama area and expand the already diverse range of services,” Halinen says. “Above all, it is important that the spaces are suitable for all user groups in Kalasatama, from children to the elderly,” he continues.
The first floor will house a café that extends into the street space, as well as multipurpose spaces that open onto the park. The second floor features adaptable multipurpose spaces for city residents to pursue their own interests, such as remote work. The second floor also features a sauna available for rent by residents, as well as a terrace offering views stretching from Kalasatama all the way to the city center.
A People-Centric Approach in a Central Location
The community center, to be built at the intersection of Koksikatu and Parrulaituri, is situated in a location of significant urban importance. It is surrounded by open fields and large building complexes, such as the Hanasaari power plant and REDI, Halinen notes. This affects not only the building’s design but also its identity. “The new building is on a human scale in relation to its surroundings, although we are mindful of its status as a central waterfront structure,” he notes.
“It is important that the spaces are suitable for all user groups in Kalasatama, from children to the elderly.”
— Kuutti Halinen, AOR Arkkitehdit Oy
The name of the competition entry, “Talas”—which refers to a boat shelter or canopy—was significant even as the proposal was being drafted. “As the name of the competition proposal suggests, AOR Architects’ goal has been to create a cozy, easily accessible shelter for the everyday lives of Kalasatama residents,” Halinen explains.
The goal is to complete most of the building-related plans during 2023 so that construction can begin in 2024. Minor adjustments to the proposal may still be made based on feedback from users. Halinen is eagerly looking forward to seeing the final result take shape. “The community center is an extremely interesting building, in part because of its central location,” he notes.
