The City of Helsinki has prepared a draft amendment to the local detailed plan that will allow the development of Hylkysaari as a recreational area. The owner of the island, Valo Group, is planning on building hotel and restaurant services in connection with the old pilot station, as well as separate accommodation buildings. The pilot station and other old buildings will be renovated and restored for new uses.
Hylkysaari to remain an open recreational area for residents
The aim of the amendment to the local detailed plan is to diversify the services offered by maritime Helsinki and to strengthen Helsinki's attractiveness as a tourist destination. In addition to accommodation facilities, plans for the area include a public sauna, conference and performance space, restaurants, beach and pier facilities and public outdoor trails. Access to the island would be by water. The aim is also to enable pedestrian traffic between Korkeasaari and Hylkysaari.
In the Helsinki City Plan, the island is specified as a maritime recreation and tourism area. The shores of the four-hectare island are owned by the City. Most of the island will remain a recreational area open to all.
The proposed amendment to the local detailed plan would allow new construction in the area. The total floor area of the existing buildings is approximately 3,700 m2. According to the new detailed plan, the total floor area of the buildings on the island after construction could be 9,500 square metres.
The construction will change the landscape of the island, but the plans have been drafted to preserve the natural, cultural, historical and scenic values of the area. Accommodation buildings should be located and built in a way that preserves as many trees and as much of the landscape as possible.
Construction and conservation to respect island's history
The island's most famous landmark is the pilot station building, built in 1910, which has undergone several alterations over the years. The restoration is intended to return the building closer to its 1920s appearance. The tower of the extension is intended to resemble the old pilot tower, which was demolished in the 1970s.
Similarly to the pilot station, Villa Ida is a protected building, and several other buildings will also be protected in the context of the amendment to the local detailed plan. The buildings have been empty and unmaintained for the last few years. The Maritime Museum of Finland was located on the island before moving to Kotka in 2007. The State-owned Senate Properties sold Hylkysaari to its current owner in 2021.
Draft plan processing to start on 25 November
The City of Helsinki Urban Environment Committee will discuss the proposed amendment to the Hylkysaari detailed plan at its meeting on Tuesday 25 November 2025. If the committee approves the proposal, it will be made available for public comment and the committee will continue to consider the plan at a later date. The final approval of the plan amendment will be decided by the City Council in due course.
The party in charge of the project implementation, Valo Group, aims to have the services operational in 2028.
