With 11,000 residents, Myllypuro is a versatile district located along the metro line. Having decades of residential history already under its belt, Myllypuro is now getting a “beauty treatment” of sorts – starting with the Myllypuro centre.
Anchored by the metro station, Myllypuro centre also has a small-scale shopping mall and a healthcare facility. The new campus of the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, presently under construction, promises to bring plenty of fresh energy into the centre. By autumn 2019, about 6,000 students will start their education in new premises.
Education is a big focus also in the sense that the Myllypuro grade school and junior high school will be unified into one school (grades 1-9), with construction slated to kick off in 2019.
Already under way are the building of a large daycare centre and Myllypuro service centre (which will feature also apartments).
Adding to the urban, active appeal of the Myllypuro centre, there is the strong emphasis on sports and recreation. There are sports venues and outdoor activities within a walking distance from the centre for all sports lovers. The versatile indoor arena Liikuntamylly and floor ball hub Arena Center are popular destinations, along with Formula Center.
While campus is the new defining feature of the Myllypuro centre, also new residential solutions are required to accommodate student housing. Residentially speaking, the neighbourhood of Puu-Myllypuro is presently receiving the “finishing touches”.
Being built in Southern Myllypuro, near the sports park, Puu-Myllypuro is a compact, village-like neighbourhood consisting of wooden houses (puu means ‘wood’ in Finnish). There are already 1,500 residents living here, enjoying high-quality wood construction and local nature, characterised by cliffs and rocks among the green.
After Puu-Myllypuro, the focus will shift, for the most part, to the Karhunkaataja area, located between Viikintie street ja Viilarintie street. Upon completion, the neighbourhood will feature as many as 3,500 residents. Also the coming express tram connection, Raide-Jokeri, will run through the area.
In addition to future tram line and the present metro line, Myllypuro is already connected via Ring I and buses.
Myllypuro has roots running back to 1940-50’s which was the time period when Myllärinlaakso area was established, consisting mainly of small houses. Myllärinlaakso was further expanded during 1970’s and 1980’s. Before the current development wave, the strongest development in Myllypuro took place in early 2000’s, as Hallainvuorentie neighbourhood was raised, offering small house living.
In the past, Myllypuro has utilised complementary construction with solid results to create a green community with a good degree of connectivity. As development intensifies, the City is committed to safeguarding the natural values of the district. Careful planning will be required through all phases of this transition.
Currently, another strong focus area is the eastern side of Ring I, where apartment buildings and small houses are constructed for over 1,600 people, located very close to the services of Myllypuro centre.
Also, there are new apartments by the power plant on the eastern side of Ring I – and a townhouse project underway.
There’s an underpass for pedestrians and bicyclists who wish to go from one side of Ring 1 to the other. The area is very compact and distances rather small.