More sustainably

The plan includes demolishing parts of the existing buildings in the block. Construction and material recovery will be carried out according to the principles of circular economy and sustainable development. All the best parts of the old block will be preserved. The dismantled building components will be reused either on the same site or in other YIT projects. The block project can serve as a testing ground for innovations and new practices, and demonstrate what circular economy in construction truly means.

Currently, the block has very little greenery. As rooftop courtyards are dismantled, it becomes possible to create ground-level yards that allow trees to grow large, add more inner courtyards, and multiply the amount of green space. The block is currently an exceptionally wide-framed structure. As part of the transformation, some buildings will have narrower frames, allowing natural light to reach the renewed, green courtyards.

Circular economy is not just a goal – it is a way of doing things

Significant increase in the block's green infrastructure

The structure of the block is opened up through three courtyard spaces that bring in natural light. The development of green infrastructure supports goals related to biodiversity, urban resilience, comfort, and beauty. The aim is to create vegetation within the block that is as diverse and layered as possible, including large-growing trees.

Parts of the block will be preserved and renovated

The most historically valuable and oldest building in the block is Sturenkatu 16, whose oldest sections were built in the 1930s as a bakery for the Helsinki Dairy Company.

The bakery is planned to be restored, bringing back the spirit of the 1930s. The buildings along Teollisuuskatu are also intended to be renovated in a way that preserves their character and historical layers.

Utilization of concrete structures and other building components

The load-bearing frame components – concrete hollow-core slabs, beams, and columns – are the most significant reusable building elements.

Other building components are also recycled: interior glass walls, suspended ceiling systems, textile tiles, and parts of building services systems. After testing and refurbishment, these components are reused either within the same block in new buildings and courtyard structures, or in projects outside the block.