Together, the islands comprise approximately 120 hectares of land, including numerous buildings related to fortifications and defence history, as well as structures currently used for tourism services. The area also includes an approximately 80-hectare nature reserve, which is not part of the negotiations and would continue to be managed by Metsähallitus. The exact boundaries of the area under consideration will be refined as the negotiations progress.
The new detailed plan for Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari entered into force in 2022. The plan allows for the construction of new café, restaurant and accommodation facilities that support nature-based tourism, as well as new business, work and exhibition spaces. It also enables the renovation and repurposing of existing buildings. The total permitted building volume for new and renovated structures is around 23,000 square metres of floor area, of which approximately 17,000 square metres are allocated for new construction.
The islands' history as military and fortification sites extends back to the 17th century. When the Finnish Defence Forces relinquished control of the islands in 2015, Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland, began preparing the area for public access. This unique nature tourism destination was opened to visitors in 2016.
In recent years, Vallisaari has become one of the most attractive recreational and tourism islands in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Together, Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari form a functionally and culturally unified entity.
Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland, is currently reviewing the building stock under its management nationwide in order to allocate its resources as effectively as possible to its core tasks. Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari are part of this overall assessment. The negotiations with the City of Helsinki aim to identify a solution that best supports the development of the island entity and ensures the preservation of its cultural and natural values, as well as sustainable nature tourism.
“Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari form an exceptionally interesting entity where Helsinki’s maritime nature, cultural history and opportunities for outdoor recreation come together. It is important that these values are preserved and that the area can be developed in a sustainable way,” says Henrik Jansson, Director of Parks & Wildlife Finland at Metsähallitus.
