The diverse and regenerating Mellunkylä is a charming district with greenery, services and excellent outdoor, sports and leisure facilities. Home to over 38,000 residents, the district comprises the residential areas of Mellunmäki, Kontula, Kivikko, Kurkimäki and Vesala.
Mellunkylä is a large and green city district in eastern Helsinki consisting of the centres of Kontula and Mellunmäki, parks, green areas and sports venues, schools, daycare centres and varied residential areas. Mellunkylä is also one of the four suburban regeneration areas. Mellunkylä is easy to reach by metro, and in the future the area’s transport connections will only improve further with the building of the Vantaa light rail line and later possibly the Jokeri Light Rail 2 line.
Mellunkylä boasts a wide range of housing options, offering ideal solutions for every stage of life. Mellunkylä includes blocks of flats both large and small, terraced, semi-detached and detached houses; rental homes, HITAS flats, right-of-occupancy flats and owner-occupied flats. Housing construction has been carried out in the area in all decades since the 1940s, and new homes are being built every year.
In the future, Mellunkylä’s range of housing options is set to continue expanding, attracting more residents as well as new companies and services to the area.
There are plenty of construction projects in progress in different parts of Mellunkylä. Many of them are concentrated particularly around the vicinity of Mellunmäki metro station and the Bredbacka residential area being planned at the intersection of Länsimäentie and Itäväylä. New construction is also being planned in Kontula, especially in the area around the metro station.
The numerous green areas, parks and forests in the Mellunkylä area offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, relaxation and even berry picking. There is also a new nature reserve being planned in the northern part of Kivikko.
Some of the most typical landscapes in Mellunkylä include pine forests and cliffs. The yards of the area’s blocks of flats are expansive and green. In addition to the sports and play parks, the area has many other parks ideal for recreation, each more charming than the last.
Aarrepuisto(Link leads to external service) is one of the jewels of Mellunkylä. The Mellunkylänpuro creek that flows through it can be admired from five different bridges, and the park features approximately 100 different species of trees, shrubs and perennials, some of which are quite rare. The benches of Aarrepuisto’s viewing platform are a great place to rest for a moment.
Mellunmäki neighbourhood park includes Mellunmäki playground and the Mellunmäki recreational area. The park’s outdoor playground was just recently refurbished, in addition to which new indoor facilities for the playground will be constructed in 2024. The playground features new play equipment and a mini-playing field; the nearby recreational area also features an outdoor gym, duckboards, benches, picnic tables, rhododendrons and cherry trees. The next few years will also see the construction of the new Ojapuisto sports park in Mellunmäki.
Lampipuisto park in Kontula is a versatile recreational venue that includes Playground Lampi with paddling pools, a dog park, rhododendrons and grassy fields. The rhododendron planting is currently being expanded and will be accompanied by a pollinator park. Kontulan kelkkapuisto park features a popular outdoor skateboarding venue, and the next few years will also see the construction of a new playground and local sports site at the park.
Kivikko forest is part of the Viikki-Kivikko green finger and provides the inhabitants of Mellunkylä with a unique connection to local nature. Kivikko sports park, which is located right next to the forest, is a great venue for a variety of sports, from disc golf to BMX and rollerskating. Kivikko sports park continues to be developed, with current plans including the construction of a local sports site for parkour and climbing and playing fields for rugby, among other sports.
In 2020, the City sought a new direction for the development of the Kontula shopping centre area with an architectural competition organised in collaboration with the owners of the business properties of the shopping centre area.
The winner of the competition was a proposal entitled Vaellus, which was prepared by Arkkitehtitoimisto OPUS, with landscape architecture by Nomaji and technical special planning by Ramboll Finland. The winning proposal is not final, as the actual designs for the area will be prepared as part of detailed planning.
In the future, the City aims to strengthen the role of Kontula as a district centre. According to Helsinki’s new city plan, Kontula centre will be developed into a versatile area consisting of a combination of retail and public services, business premises, housing, parks, recreational and sports services and urban culture. The aim is to also diversify the range of housing options available in the area.
The accessibility of Mellunmäki will improve significantly in the future with the construction of the Vantaa light rail’s terminus in Mellunmäki. The Vantaa light rail line is due to commence operation in 2029.
The construction of the Vantaa light rail line is by no means the only development taking place in Mellunkylä centre. New housing and business premises are currently being planned for the blocks around the metro station. The Laakavuori school building will be replaced by a new Laakavuori community centre, which will house an early childhood education unit and comprehensive school, youth facilities and adult education centre facilities. Meanwhile the Mellunpuisto block project, which is located at the intersection of Ounasvaarantie and Pallaksentie, will build owner-occupied and rental flats for approximately 1,750 residents.
There is also a new residential area for 1,800 residents being planned at the intersection of Länsimäentien and Itäväylä.
Local detailed plans determine the land use of an area, where we build housing, offices, parks, streets and other roads, for example.
The metro runs smoothly from Mellunkylä all the way to Espoo's Kivenlahti. In the coming decades, the transport connections in Mellunkylä will become even more diversified than today. One of the most important transport projects is the planned Vantaa Light Rail from Mellunmäki via Tikkurila to the airport. A decision on constructing the light rail line will be taken in 2023.
Diverse services are Mellunkylä's strength. The recreational facilities are excellent – including a swimming pool with fitness facilities, a BMX track and a disc golf course suitable for competitive use. The skateboarding facilities are top-notch, with indoor and outdoor skating areas.
A wide range of shops and services can be found at Kontula shopping centre.