Keilaniemi, located on the border of Espoo and Helsinki, is transforming from a car-dominated area into a pedestrian-friendly district. This shift is reflected in the creation of a new square, Keilaniementori, which marks a significant departure from the past. In 1976, the sleek, slender Neste Tower was completed as the headquarters for Finland’s largest company at the time. At 20 stories, it was the tallest building in Finland and designed by Castrén-Jauhiainen-Nuuttila Architects with a focus on car-centric ideals. The tower’s base housed a parking garage, with a ramp leading up to the main entrance on the first floor.

Over the decades, Keilaniemi became a hub for businesses, but it was largely isolated from the rest of the city by major transport routes like Länsiväylä and Kehä I. However, recent developments are reshaping the area’s future. In 2017, a metro station was added, followed by the construction of a park deck over the tunnelized Kehä I, connecting the neighboring residential areas of Tapiola and Otsonlahti. In 2024, the Raide-Jokeri light rail will also have its end stop in Keilaniemi. Plans for new office, residential, and hotel buildings aim to add 6,500 jobs and 3,000 residents to the area within the next decade.

The Accountor Tower, formerly the Neste Tower, stands near the metro station, but the surrounding area has changed dramatically. Until recently, a massive, windowless concrete wall greeted metro riders, but the demolition of the garage’s top floor has made way for Keilaniementori, a public square designed by landscape architect Malin Blomqvist of MASU Planning. The square, which includes a café, sculptures, and sports facilities, introduces a new urban space in an area previously lacking one. Blomqvist’s design reflects the ideas of Danish urban planner Jan Gehl, aiming to create a vibrant, accessible space for both workers and the wider public.

The Keilaniemi area is undergoing further transformation with plans for a new office and hotel tower, and two residential towers. The square now forms the central axis of the district, serving as a key gathering space and enhancing connectivity with the metro station. Blomqvist envisions the space as one that will attract both local workers and visitors, making it a lively and memorable urban center.

Source: Essi Oikarinen’s review in Finnish Architectural Review 1/2022