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big bat

león

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સિંહ

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singa

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ライオン

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lõvi

Hartwall Arena was completed in 1996. It is a project of major scale and was a huge effort from its makers. Reflecting to the difficulties during the building process the sketchy detailing of its instant surroundings makes sense. The whole project was designed and completed within the duration of two years. The size of the Arena itself is 33.950m² / 315.000m³. The size of the parking facility is 35.650m² and the total budget of the project was 300 million Finnish marks (FIM). The cost can be estimated as the equivalent of the budget of the Helsinki Music hall (150 million €).

The personification of the arena is businessman Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo. First known as a competitive sailor in the 1980's, he had become the owner of the Jokerit ice-hockey team in 1991. He turned the unprofitable East Helsinki team into a succesful professional team and a lucrative business. The idea for a new NHL -level ice-hockey hall in 1992 was a natural result of this success story.

During the design stage it became apparent that a private ice-hockey venue relying purely in sports business could not become economically viable. Instead of a hockey-hall the project turned into a multi-purpose arena, a concept having been developed earlier in America. The functional focus of the project switched from sports to entertainment and commercial function.

Harkimo: "I really thought, initially, that we are in a process of building an ice-hockey hall. After I realised that more than 50% of the use would be concerts, fairs and other functions, we had a complete change of plan.

As it often happens with implementing large scale projects, the construction of the Hartwall Arena was a straightforward, strenuous and sometimes ruthless process. The main designer was changed in the very early phases from Heikkinen&Komonen to Kontio-Kilpiä-Valjento architects. What was left of Heikkinen&Komonen's original sketches was the elliptical overall shape definition in the city plan, and the demand that 50% of the facades were to be built of glass.

The choice of the site was a complicated process, seemingly more directed by politics than planning. Options to the eventual Pasila site were in Käpylä sports park, on the Laakso riding field, Sörnäinen, and even on the Töölönlahti Bay in the city centre (this option was probably machined by the politicians opposing the the whole idea of a new hall as a "wackiest possible" option that would guarantee the plan would fail...)! Luckily, the site in Pasila, next to the Helsinki Fair Centre was chosen as the best position logistically. Helsinki city real estate manager, Olavi Louko, has been credited for coming up with the final site on Haarakallio.

The traffic connections to the site are ideal. Access is excellent from all main entrance ways to Helsinki. Through the Pasila station also train commuters can easily approach the arena from anywhere in Finland. Trams, buses and all local trains are also routed through the Pasila station.

While finishing the arena there had been brief discussions about possibly building office spaces a few floors further on top of the parking garage, but the ideas had been forgotten for about 20 years...

Some have declared Helsinki full, but there are endless amounts of thinkable infill sites. Look beyond unbuilt spots of land, find unused potential within sites, buildings, and larger areas, or detect prospective synergies in their surroundings.

Cities are built ideological manifests by their people. Helsinki is not just a physical area at 60 degrees north occupied by human beings. It is one of the major living global statements on how mankind should inhabit this planet.

What kind of ideology do you want to promote?

"Live in nostalgia. Refuse to develop. Ignore present day problems."

or:

"Actively tackle the important issues in global discourse for saving the world."

Don't believe the hype. Think.