The Helsinki mortuary facilities (Malmin kalmistotie 2) are the capital city’s first building intended specifically for the storage of the deceased and for holding farewell ceremonies. As is often the case with new buildings, some issues have come up since the facilities were opened for use, and these issues will be rectified during the autumn. The fluctuating summer weather has revealed shortcomings in elements such as the insulation materials used in the ventilation ducts.
“Some of this technology is being used in Finland for the first time for the storage of the deceased. It is important that the deceased can be handled with respect, and that the conditions in which they are stored are the best possible. That is why we are fine-tuning the details and rectifying the issues identified over the summer,” says Project Director Kirsi Virtanen from the City of Helsinki, who was in charge of the construction of the facilities.
The aim is to ensure that loved ones have an opportunity to say their goodbyes in peace, so the repairs are set to be carried out outside the opening hours of the mortuary.
The repair work carried out in the autumn will not cause any service interruptions.
Helsinki has sufficient mortuary facilities, but the City is preparing for potential additional needs
The City of Helsinki has a total of nearly 500 places for the deceased in its mortuary facilities. In addition to the mortuary facilities in Malmi, there are also storage facilities in the City’s senior centres and hospitals, for example.
Due to ongoing hospital projects and maintenance work on mortuaries, the City is preparing for a potential need for additional capacity by taking preliminary steps, such as permit applications for placing mortuary containers next to the mortuary facilities. There has been no need for more space so far, but the preparations make it possible to put additional facilities to use on short notice if needed.