Actions in the suburban regeneration areas
Suburban regeneration is progressing in all of the suburban regeneration areas. This page provides information about current events and projects in each area. There is a lot going on in the suburban regeneration areas especially in the summer. Take part in free summer activities!
You can also check out the Helsinki near you service for information about services, events and news in your area.
Malmi is an open, vibrant and diverse residential area. Malmi's strong sense of community and layers built up by history are reflected in the desire of its residents to participate in the development and growth of the area.
Current events and projects in Malmi:
Hyvän arjen rakentajat programme(Link leads to external service)
Malmi Art Programme (in Finnish)
Media arts workshop for young people, Tiuku ry(Link leads to external service)
GreenInCities project in Malmi(Link leads to external service)
Services in Malmi:
Cultural Centre Malmitalo(Link leads to external service)
Malmi Swimming Hall(Link leads to external service)
Learn more about plans for and construction progress in Malmi
Malminkartano-Kannelmäki offers peaceful living, good services and excellent opportunities for recreation. The area has numerous parks, local exercise areas and playgrounds.
Current events and projects in Malminkartano and Kannelmäki:
Helsinki Urban Art implements communal and experimental public art in the Maltsu elää! project(Link leads to external service)
Services in Malminkartano and Kannelmäki:
Cultural Centre Kanneltalo(Link leads to external service)
Kannelmäki Library(Link leads to external service)
Kannelmäki Youth Centre(Link leads to external service)
Malminkartano Youth Centre(Link leads to external service)
Learn more about plans for and construction progress in Malminkartanoi
Learn more about plans for and construction progress in Kannelmäki
Mellunkylä is a diverse, vibrant and green district. It offers great outdoor recreation and leisure opportunities, as well as urban culture and events.
Current events and projects in Mellunkylä:
Community House Aapelinkulma will open its doors in autumn 2026
Kontula Cultural Mall (page in Finnish)
‘Itä kuuluu Mitä kuuluu’ podcast (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Services in Mellunkylä:
Kontula Library(Link leads to external service)
Luuppi Youth Centre(Link leads to external service)
Learn more about plans for and construction progress in Mellunkylä
In Meri-Rastila, the maritime local nature offers a great setting for housing, outdoor recreation and relaxation. Suburban regeneration will bring a wealth of new housing opportunities to the area in the future.
Current events and projects in Meri-Rastila:
Neighbourhood circus goes Meri-Rastila, Circus Magenta ry(Link leads to external service)
On the paths of the little ones in Meri-Rastila, Arkki School of Architecture for Children and Youth(Link leads to external service)
Services in Meri-Rastila:
Cultural Space Merirasti (page in Finnish)(Link leads to external service) Read more about the activities of Cultural Space Merirasti in the published report (in Finnish).
Cultural Centre Vuotalo(Link leads to external service)
Learn more about plans for and construction progress in Meri-Rastila
What has already been done in the suburban regeneration areas?
We have implemented a number of measures in the suburban regeneration areas in recent years. For example, we have renovated several playgrounds and nearby sports facilities. Together with the residents, we have improved the attractiveness of the station areas through placemaking. Last year, we targeted measures especially at child and youth activities and improved their sense of security.
The KauKo – Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing project was aimed at finding new, functional solutions for cities and city residents and building a multi-stakeholder ecosystem of wellbeing services and sustainable practices. The goal was to develop new markets for businesses focusing on wellbeing and physical activity and producing innovative solutions, and to support the competitiveness of these businesses.
During the project, different solutions were tested in urban environments to encourage physical activity and support wellbeing in everyday life. New, innovative solutions were tested together with residents and local networks. In Helsinki, the pilot programmes were implemented in the suburban regeneration areas of Malmi and Malminkartano.
Read the final report of the KauKo project (in Finnish).(Link leads to external service)
The Schools for All project developed a shared operating model to reduce differences between schools in Helsinki and to strengthen equal educational opportunities across the city. The aim was to ensure that families in all parts of Helsinki can trust that the local learning pathway – from early childhood education to school – provides a high-quality and equitable learning path for all children.
The project was implemented with a state special grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture during 2022–2025, and it was integrated into the implementation of Helsinki’s urban renewal programme in Malminkartano–Kannelmäki, Malmi, Mellunkylä and Meri-Rastila. The work supports the city’s long-term objective of reducing segregation and strengthening the attractiveness of neighbourhoods.
The project focused on strengthening knowledge-based management practices, developing more precise and targeted resource allocation, improving cooperation between urban planning and services, and enhancing the appeal of local learning pathways. In addition, cooperation and communication between homes, early childhood education centres, schools and other actors were strengthened to promote participation and positive encounters between guardians and staff.
Read the final report of the Schools for All project (in Finnish).(Link leads to external service)
We tested various smart everyday solutions and carried out smart city experiments for three years together with Forum Virium Helsinki in the Helsinki Innovation Districts. In the project, we brought approximately 20 smart solution experiments to the suburban regeneration areas, in the implementation of which we cooperated with residents and companies.
The experiments emphasised themes related to the characteristics and development of each area. In Malminkartano, the focus was on urban green and empty spaces, in Mellunkylä, on wood construction and living solutions aimed at children and young people, and in Malmi, on lighting and the use of outdoor spaces.
Helsinki Innovation Districts (Link leads to external service)
In 2023, Helsinki participated in the joint development programme of the American Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation and Harvard University, where we sought solutions to improve the safety experience of children and young people. In the programme, we strive to find solutions for, above all, preventive work, as well as operating models for tackling problems together with various professionals and local actors. We piloted the measures in Kannelmäki in 2023.
Read more about the programme(Link leads to external service)
Helsinki was part of the Ministry of the Environment’s Suburban development programme 2020–2022 . The government’s cross-administrative Suburban development programme strengthened the comprehensive development of suburban areas and prevented their regional segregation. We implemented all suburban programme projects in the suburban regeneration areas.
Measures in Malmi
- Renovating and improving the attractiveness of Ylä-Malmi square, for example,the renewal of playground equipment, vegetation, surface materials and wading pool at playground Traktori’s yard area.
- Renovation of the Ala-Malmi park fountain
Measures in Malminkartano-Kannelmäki
- Improving the areas surrounding the train stations in Malminkartano and Kannelmäki
- Replacing Malminkartano’s fitness stairs and adding lighting
- Renovation of playground Trumpetti
- Renovation of playground Filpus
Measures in Mellunkylä
- Renovation of playground Mellunmäki
- Renovation of the Mellunmäki resident park
- Renovation of the Kivikko disc golf course
- A new outdoor recreation area north of Mellunmäentie
Read more about the Suburban development programme 2020–2022 (Link leads to external service)
Placemaking
We carry out placemaking in all to the suburban regeneration areas. Placemaking could also be called place design. It refers to a method of co-creation of urban spaces. Its aim is to create more functional and attractive urban spaces in cooperation with local residents and actors.
As part of the experiments, we collect valuable user-oriented information on how residents and other actors experience the central urban spaces of their residential areas and what they want from the spaces in the future. We will use this information in further planning. Our goal is to make future urban spaces more responsive to the wishes and needs of their users.
Take a look at the placemaking experiments implemented in Malmi in 2022!
Placemaking experiments in Malmi in 2022
In the summer of 2022, placemaking experiments were carried out in Malmi in Ala-Malmi park and Ylä-Malmi market.