Stoa and Puhos local detailed plan ready

Stoa and Puhos to be surrounded by walkable and welcoming urban areas

Additions and refinements have been made to the revised local detailed plan proposal to be presented to the Urban Environment Committee on 11 November in further planning. They are mainly of a technical nature and do not entail any substantial changes to the plans presented in the previous phases. 

The planning has allowed for the renovation and extension of Cultural Centre Stoa. The original fan-shaped part of the Puhos shopping centre will be protected. The plans include developing the expanding Stoanaukio square into an active event space. According to the plans, a block resembling a string of beads will be built on its edge, connecting Stoanaukio square to the rear section of Puhos via the new Kastelholmankuja. The new block would include residential buildings, with commercial premises and terraces planned for the lower floors. As for the new cosy shopping street, it would feature plenty of plants and make the now underused Puhos back terrace lively once more.

The plan also includes the urban Stoanpuisto park, a new residential block on the site of the newer section of the Puhos centre and a live music concert hall or assisted living housing on the site of the current daycare centre. The contents of the plan have been described in more detail in an earlier news item.

Detailed design of Stoa to begin

The architectural competition for the renovation and extension of Cultural Centre Stoa will start early next year. The aim is to strengthen Stoa's position as the big draw and meeting place in the growing Helsinki East Urban Centre. The expansion of Stoa will take into account the location’s role as a centre for the everyday life and leisure of local residents, with a wide range of cultural activities as well as low-threshold physical activity, leisure, library and youth services. The aim of the competition is to find a high-quality solution to meet the requirements of today and tomorrow.

There are also plans for so-called placemaking pilots in the area. These pilots are designed to make the resident experience available to more comprehensive projects, bring residents on board with change and lower the threshold to get involved in urban development. More information on the pilots will be provided as the plans take shape next year.

The detailed plan for the Puotila metro station area, which runs parallel to the Stoa and Puhos plans, is already legally valid and planning can begin. Urban housing for approximately one thousand residents will be built in the area. The contents of the Puotila plan have been described in more detail in a news item published last year. 

Helsinki East Urban Centre to become more urban

The planning of the Helsinki East Urban Centre will continue on the basis of the design competition in 2020 and the planning principles specified in 2022. The aim is to transform the entire Itäkeskus area into a more urban, cohesive, walkable and diverse centre in East Helsinki. 

The areas of Stoa, Puhos and Puotila that are currently receiving detailed plans have been planned in cooperation with private development groups. The Itis Siti consortium has been involved in the planning of both areas. The development of Puhos has been the responsibility of the owners of the shopping centre, Puotinharjun Puhos Oy.