The South Harbour is being developed as part of the walkable city centre. There are currently several development projects underway in the area.
Architecture competition for the new Allas Pool now starting
The seaside spa on Katajanokanlaituri is proposed to become a permanent part of the South Harbour’s scenery. In addition to the spa, the area’s plans include wellness and sports facilities and a new year-round event venue, while the waterfront is being developed for leisure and walking.
Nordic Urban Oy is currently preparing the project’s planning process and is organising an international invitational competition for the architectural design of the new Allas Pool seaside spa building, in collaboration with the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Association of Architects and the Finnish Association of Landscape Architects. The competition begins on Monday, 16 November 2026. The competitors will submit their entries in March 2027 and the winner is expected to be announced in May 2027.
The new building would be situated on the same site as the current, temporary seaside spa, next to the Market Square. This is a central location with great symbolic value, and it is governed by numerous conservation and cultural heritage classifications. The competition seeks a solution that would integrate the new development into this delicate and valuable setting.
“It is exciting to have the opportunity to make South Harbour an even more vibrant and open waterfront area. Through the international architectural competition, we will ensure that the new Allas Pool blends seamlessly into Helsinki’s iconic maritime landscape,” says Raoul Grünstein, CEO of Nordic Urban.
At Makasiiniranta, the principles on the letting and sale of plots are under consideration
Makasiiniranta will become a pleasant public space that will complement the waterfront route around the Helsinki peninsula from the Market Square to Kaivopuisto. Plans for the area include a new architecture and design museum, as well as the Saaret project, which comprises four buildings with office and commercial premises. The local detailed plans for the projects came into force in August 2026. The street plans for the area will move forward to the decision-making phase towards the end of the year.
The area will be developed in stages. Construction of the Architecture & Design Museum and the two northernmost blocks of the Saaret project could begin in 2028. The second construction phase can only be implemented once car ferry services in the area have ceased. The plan for the future is to concentrate regular cruiseferry services in West Harbour and Katajanokka. Olympiaranta will continue to accommodate visiting cruise ships.
The Urban Environment Committee will discuss the principles governing the letting and sale of the plots for the museum and the Saaret project at its meeting on 17 November.. The principles and the implementation agreement for the area will set out the terms under which the plots will be let. Under the principles, the plots could be purchased once the buildings have been completed. The final land lease or purchase price is based on a unit price, which is adjusted in line with the cost-of-living index. At 2026 price levels, the purchase price of the museum plot is approximately €6,375,000 and the annual rent approximately €318,750, while the total purchase price of the plots for the Saaret project is approximately €14,350,000 and the annual rents are approximately €717,500 in total.