First there came a new metro station where no one got off. This was exactly ten years ago in Kalasatama, a district on the eastern edge of the city centre.
The landscape at the time was mostly wasteland and grim office buildings. Fast forward 15 years and over 20,000 people will be living in the redeveloped district surrounded by the sea and within easy reach of the city centre.
Kalasatama is being transformed into a state-of-the-art city district. The development projects include not only new apartments and offices, but also new ways in which locals will be part of the decision-making process.
“We have been experimenting with everything from social and healthcare services to waste management and even smart parking. We are now on our eleventh project,” says Veera Mustonen, Project Manager at Forum Virium, the innovation unit within the Helsinki City Group.
Kalasatama is aptly being labelled a smart city district, i.e. a place that aims to respond rapidly to the challenges of a growing city. In other words, it aims to keep Helsinki a fast and easy city in which to live, even as it continues to expand.
This is all very much to do with efficiency and encouraging innovative companies to meet others and form creative networks.
What is the motivation for local residents and businesses to participate actively in the development of Kalasatama – don’t they pay taxes so that others can take care of these things on their behalf?
“They want to join in because it is unbelievably fun!” Mustonen says.
“People are tremendously energised by the idea that together we are creating something new. In fact, instead of taking up people’s time, the aim behind the Kalasatama Smart City project is to save people an hour a day,” Mustonen adds.
In other words, Kalasatama will become a resource-wise district where the services are so functional that each resident would gain an extra hour of free time every day. This extra hour could then be used for doing something more rewarding than just taking care of everyday chores.
Text: Antti Pikkanen