South Harbour Masterplan

In 2008 ALA Architects presented a new planning vision for the historical harbor area in the center of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The vision presents a series of interventions and improvements to the area ranging from delicate changes around the market square to 50,000 m² of new floor area located on top of the existing harbor.

The project is based on an analysis of the existing challenges and potentials of the area and its surroundings. The design team adopted sociologist Guido Martinotti’s ideas of four different populations of a second generation metropolis as the conceptual framework for the project. The improved harbor area is intended to serve all these populations: it will be a true multi-layered public urban area.

The most dramatic improvement proposed in the plan is to continue the historical Observatory Park over the harbor’s loading and parking areas as a green deck, bringing the park – and the people – to the waterfront. This green deck becomes a car-free public park-like area and connects the main waterfront pedestrian routes, which are currently disconnected because of the fenced-off zone of the port. In the design, all port functions remain on site under the deck.

Hill-like building volumes rise from the deck providing both new functions and urban life to the area. All spaces on deck level open to the outside and are public in nature: cafés, bars and shops, as well as a maritime aquarium are proposed.