05 Dec 2018
Ice hockey club Helsinki IFK leading the charge in creating 'new kind of recreational hub' in Finland
BY Andrew Manns
Finnish ice hockey team Helsingin IFK (HIFK) are helming a development team to build what is projected to become one of Finland’s most popular leisure attractions: Garden Helsinki.
The complex, major parts of which will be situated "almost entirely underground", will feature a number of sports, hospitality, and recreational facilities including an 11,000-seat indoor arena, 200-room hotel, ice rink, gym, hotel, and spa.
On-site restaurants and residential apartments will also be constructed on the premises.
As well as becoming the new home for HIFK, the arena could house the capital's basketball team Helsinki Seagulls. The main owners of the Seagulls, Janne and Sinikka Kulvik, have made a "significant investment" in the project.
Co-designed by architecture firms B&M, Populous, and PES-Architects, the new space – which will be built on the northern side of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium arena – will be realised by YIT – Finland’s largest construction company.
Speaking on the development, Juha Kostiainen, executive vice president of urban development at YIT said: "The Garden Helsinki project perfectly embodies our vision of more life in sustainable cities. In the increasingly dense urban environment, it will combine several different and attractive functions at a location that benefits from excellent public transport connections."
Timo Everi, chairman of the Garden Helsinki board commented: "In planning Garden Helsinki, we have put particular emphasis on how it will serve as a stage for the daily life, hobbies and experiences of local residents."
Construction on the project is expected to begin by 2020.
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