The Hanasaari power station, which is visible from several directions, is an important part of central Helsinki’s industrial cityscape. The Hanasaari B power station is located in Sörnäinen’s ‘power district’. The district also included the Hanasaari A power station, which has now been demolished, and the Suvilahti power station that is now a cultural centre. The area is an excellent example of roughly one hundred years of industrial development.

Heavy industrial construction is architecturally challenging because it must meet the stringent demands of the industrial processes. Hanasaari Power plant was designed by the architect Timo Penttilä and he was assisted by architects Jouni Ijäs, Heikki Saarela, Pentti Karvo and Mariana Cedercreutz. The project was completed in 1976. Penttilä successfully managed to lighten the appearance of the massive power plant by placing the heaviest functions at the centre of the plant. He grouped secondary facilities, such as offices, coal conveyors and service buildings, in smaller units around the generator building. He streamlined the cubic structures by concealing doors and other openings into the dark steel-clad surfaces. This ensures that the elevations look untouched.Vertical mouldings provide visual references, which hide the seams of the prefabricated units with their load-bearing reinforced concrete pillars. Penttilä’s skilled use of subtle stylistic resources transformed an everyday production facility into a huge urban sculpture.

Location

Parrukatu 4, Helsinki
60.18392589, 24.97108698

Images

Power plant seen from the sea, Hanasaari Power Station
Power plant seen from the sea, Hanasaari Power Station (© Sakari Kiuru / HKM)
Power plant seen from the Kalasatama area, Hanasaari Power Station
Power plant seen from the Kalasatama area, Hanasaari Power Station (© Juho Nurmi / HKM)
Power plant seen from Sörnäinen, Hanasaari Power Station
Power plant seen from Sörnäinen, Hanasaari Power Station (© Kari Hakli / HKM)
Power plant seen from Sörnäinen, Hanasaari Power Station
Power plant seen from Sörnäinen, Hanasaari Power Station (© Kari Hakli / HKM)
Power plant seen from Sörnäinen in the 1970s, Hanasaari Power Station
Power plant seen from Sörnäinen in the 1970s, Hanasaari Power Station (© MFA)
Control centre, Hanasaari Power Station
Control centre, Hanasaari Power Station (© MFA)
Detail of the façade, Hanasaari Power Station
Detail of the façade, Hanasaari Power Station (© MTR Studio / MFA)
Detail of the façade, Hanasaari Power Station
Detail of the façade, Hanasaari Power Station (© MTR Studio / MFA)
Section plan, Hanasaari Power Station
Section plan, Hanasaari Power Station (© MFA)

More projects by author

Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Ratina Stadium

  • Tampere
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Sampola

  • Tampere
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Salokunta Church

  • Sastamala
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Helsinki City Theatre

  • Helsinki

Nearby projects

Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Suvilahti Power Plant

  • 400 m
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Helsingin Studio Housing

  • 500 m
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Kalasatama School and Daycare Centre

  • 500 m