The City of Helsinki is planning the renovation of Lapinlahti Hospital. The planned renovation project covers the main building of the former hospital, the Venetsia building as well as the maintenance and sauna buildings.
The culturally and historically valuable Lapinlahti Hospital has been due for a renovation for a long time. Extensive condition surveys carried out in recent years confirm that the repair of the buildings must be actively pursued, as otherwise their preservation is threatened. Some of the facilities are no longer in use due to safety risks.
In order to restore the building, the Urban Environment Division is preparing a preliminary proposal on how to implement the project, which will be submitted to political decision-making. The proposal is expected to be decided upon in autumn 2026. The intention is that existing tenants will be able to continue to occupy the premises until the renovation is set to begin.
Renovation aimed to start in 2028
In 2020, the Helsinki City Board outlined how the Lapinlahti area should be developed. The future of the area has been outlined through a market survey, for example. In connection with the planning, it will also be decided what the ownership and operating model of the Lapinlahti buildings will be after the renovation and whether the hospital will be renovated all at the same time or in stages.
The needs assessment for renovation in Lapinlahti will be prepared for decision-making in autumn 2026. A project plan will then be drafted, and it is intended to be completed in 2027. The Helsinki City Council will decide on approving the needs decision and project plan.
The aim is that the renovation could begin after more detailed planning in 2028.
The needs assessment will steer the detailed plans
A solution has been drafted which would allow the Lapinlahti hospital park to be used by the residents, while reserving some space for mental health work and some for open NGO and cultural activities. Most of the facilities in the hospital area would be rented for business activities under market conditions.
The main building would continue to be owned by the City through a property company to be established. Selling the Venetsia building could also be considered.
According to preliminary plans, the Venetsia building and approximately 85% of the main building, totalling around 6,200 square metres, would be converted into business premises. This solution would allow covering a large portion of the investment costs of the renovation through rental income.
Approximately 15% of the main building would be set aside for NGO and cultural activities, such as mental health and wellbeing services, events and restaurant use. The Omenapuutalo building, the therapy building and the sauna would also remain in this kind of use. No additional construction is planned for the area.
More detailed preparation of the needs assessment is still ongoing. The plan is due to be finalised in autumn 2026.
Schedule
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2020
- The City planned the sale of the Lapinlahti buildings and organised a competition for the matter, which was won by NREP Oy.
- The City Board rejected the competition proposal and set new guidelines for the development of the area. NREP and the winning proposal had to be included in further investigations, where applicable.
Decision of the City Board dated 22 June 2020 (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
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2021
- The investigative working group published its proposal for measures on how the buildings in the Lapinlahti area should be developed.
Report of the investigative working group 22 January 2021 (PDF in Finnish, 6.9 Mt)
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2022
- The city started a new planning work and gathered the views of current operators and residents for the development of the area.
Kerrokantasi online survey 30 November 2022–20 January 2023 (Link leads to external service)
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2023
- The city prepared the concept plan for the buildings together with NREP and other operators. NREP withdrew from the project after concept planning.
Kerrokantasi online survey 10 March–2 April 2023 (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
- Building condition surveys were completed.
- Public event on condition surveys and the planning situation 5 October 2023.
- Event presentation 5 October 2023 (pdf, 15 MB, in Finnish)
- Summary of questions and answers of the public event 5 October 2023, (pdf, in Finnish)
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2024
- The City started to plan how the renovation of the premises could be carried out as the City’s own project.
- Preliminary planning of the renovation project began.
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2025
- Preliminary study started.
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2026
- Proposal to the City Council to launch project planning on the basis of the preliminary study (decision on the needs). Political decision-making to start with the Buildings and Public Areas Sub-committee in the autumn 2026.
- Start of project planning.
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2027
- The City Council will decide whether to approve the project plan.
- Construction planning.
- In connection with the planning, the intention is to begin the amendment of the local detailed plan, because in the current plan, the premises are assigned to activities in the social services and health care sector.
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2028
- According to preliminary estimates, the renovation will begin in autumn 2028.
Frequently asked questions
The City of Helsinki rented the main building of the Lapinlahti Hospital to Osuuskunta Lapinlahden tilajakamo and Lapinlahden Lähde Oy in 2015. The premises of the hospital area currently house operators engaged in the mental health, culture and well-being sector. Among other things, the area has cafes, a sauna, a handicraft shop, a flea market and a museum of mental health work.
The buildings in Lapinlahti were used as a hospital until 2006, when psychiatric care was centralised in the renovated Hesperia and Aurora Hospitals. The last hospital operations were moved away from Lapinlahti in 2008.
Yes. The hospital’s main building, the Venetsia building and the sauna building are in poor condition and need a thorough renovation. Among other things, the sewer system and building technology must be modernised and harmful substances have to be removed from the structures. The city plans the renovation in cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The buildings are first carefully inspected in order to draw up the renovation plans. The most recent condition surveys were completed in 2025. If necessary, more surveys will be carried out throughout the planning of the renovation.
No. No additional construction is planned for the protected park surrounding the hospital. The park has, for the most part, only been subject to maintenance procedures in recent years.
The park’s history and special natural assets, such as trees planted by hospital patients and the habitat of the endangered Depressaria chaerophylli, will be taken into account in the renovation project along with what types of events can be organised in the park without endangering its natural assets.
The intention is to also amend the local detailed plan in connection with the renovation planning, as the premises are assigned to social and health activities in the current plan. The exact schedule of the local detailed plan amendment is not yet known.
Main picture: Garden of Lapinlahti Hospital. Photo: Yiping Feng ja Ling Ouyang, Helsinki Partners.
The page has been updated 8 August 2026.