Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2013 | Page 19

Photo: Studio Daniel Libeskind for NCC, Aerial photo: Lentokuva Vallas Oy

regards to the retail offering, he believes that
the international chains could well co-exist
with a more local offering – there is room
for both.

Walk This Way
Appearing at the same seminar, there was
Project Manager Kalle Vaismaa from traffic
research centre Verne, who championed the
cause of the pedestrians. He has been benchmarking Central European cities and noticed
that “pedestrian power” is really rising all
over. In Odense, Denmark, for example, pedestrians are considered VIPs in the City’s
traffic strategy, meaning that there is a variety of services targeted for this group alone.
In some cities, motor traffic clearly adjusts to the speed of the pedestrians and not
the other way around. Enjoyable pedestrian
routes around the downtown – and along the
waterfront, if applicable – are sure to peak
people’s interest. Different types of walking
tours – with e.g. historical or architectural
themes – also go a long away in instilling a
pedestrian culture which encourages people
to stay in the downtown area – even after
most shops have closed their doors.
Both Mitronen and Vaismaa appeared
at the conference which marked the 15th
anniversary of Finnish Living City Centre
Association. During this time, the Living
City Centre Association has spearheaded the
cause of dynamic downtown areas, trying
to find ways to keep moving forward. The
association awards one distinguished city
each year for accomplishments in this field.

Mikkeli Magic

fic connections are the key to any vibrant
hub. Also the places and spaces must be
“human-scale”, so that the pedestrians are
not overwhelmed in anyway. Mitronen talks
about increasing the sense of safety by lighting, clear, concise paths for movement, manicured parks and rest areas.
Mitronen also has a clear opinion on
the optimal mix regarding old and new
buildings: he sees that the preservation and
utilisation of existing, older properties is
very important and renewal projects should
take care to respect the old stock.
Lasse Mitronen also pointed out that
no city centre is all about the stores. Apartments and jobs are needed, too; a plethora of
cafés, restaurants and other places for people
to meet and spend some time together. With

In 2012, this recognition went to Mikkeli
for revamping their city centre to the tune
of 153 million euros (with the City’s share
kept down at 10 %). The upgrade relied on
careful planning: together with the citizens,
a City 2010 vision was created already back
in 2002–2005 – and that vision was realised
almost in its entirety.
Now, the Eastern Finland city boasts a
brand new travel centre and a super-dynamic duo: the former Shopping Centre of the
Year (2010) Akseli and reigning Shopping
Centre of the Year (2012) Stella. Add to the
mix, a lively year-round market square, pedestrian center with heated walkways and
the most modern market square parking facility around, and you know why Mikkeli is
so hot right now.
Innovative thinking is very much the
key to the city centre renewal at Hämeenlinna, also. The City of Hämeenlinna is building a 230-metre deck over highway 3, linking the western and eastern parts of the city
centre. Construction work began in September 2011, with the deck set for completion
in June 2013.
Once the deck is completed, construction company NCC will build apartment

buildings and a shopping centre of around
60 shops on it. The buildings are due for
completion during autumn 2014 and also the
new shopping centre should open its doors
then. Experts are hailing the deck solution
as a genius invention which will help this
Southern Finland city to create – finally – a
unified city centre, with a brand new shopping