Concept competition for Haltiala Farm – looking for an experienced partner to develop the area

Interested parties can participate in the competition until 22 August 2025. The best idea for developing the area will win the competition. The buildings will be sold at a fixed total price of €400,000.

More diverse services as the goal

Haltiala Farm is a year-round favourite destination of families with children, in particular, allowing visitors to admire domestic animals such as sheep and cows. The purpose of the competition is to look for a more diverse concept plan for the farm, which could be designed around activities such as farm tourism, accommodation and restaurant services, business facilities, environmental education, building and cultural history or recreational activities. The domestic animal farm operations at the farm will continue in the future, and at least some of the animals should be available for viewing without a charge.

High-quality and feasible plan

The competition will be held to find a high-quality and feasible proposal where the farm animals and the buildings in the area are sold to a buyer who will renovate the buildings for their new purposes. The Haltiala, Kellarimäki and Niskala areas feature a total of 29 buildings/structures, most of which are protected. The area has around 2,500 floor m² of unused building rights.

The competition is targeted at entrepreneurs in the agriculture and tourism field or groups of such entrepreneurs who must have experience with managing a domestic animal farm or similar business operations and sufficient competence and prerequisites for caring for the animals and ensuring their wellbeing.

The participating group must also have access to a sufficient degree of expertise with planning in an environment with cultural and historical value, and they need to have sufficient financial resources and technological competence to implement the project.

The competition will be decided based on the concept plan, and proposals meeting the minimum requirements set will be included in the competition.

New construction possible to replace demolished buildings

The Haltiala yard has five and Niskala yard two unused building sites where the previous buildings have become destroyed or have been demolished.

Reconstruction of the Haltiala main building is possible, for example, but should be discussed with the City Museum. The main building was badly damaged in a fire in the 1950s. Subsequently, the decision was made for it to be demolished during the next decade.

Together, the remaining farm buildings, the barn, the sheds, and the estate manager’s and employees’ homes create the stately milieu of the manor park.

New services for Haltiala?

City residents can fill in an online survey to share their views on what kinds of new services could be introduced in Haltiala. The survey will be open until 25 May 2025 at kerrokantasi.hel.fi/haltialan-tilan-kehittaminen (in Finnish). The survey also allows residents to share what kind of new events they would like to see in the area.

Competition schedule

The concept competition will end on 22 August 2025. The Urban Environment Committee will decide on the winner in approximately early 2026.

The competition materials are available at https://www.hel.fi/fi/kaupunkiymparisto-ja-liikenne/haltialan-kotielaintilan-kehittaminen-konseptikilpailu-tuomarinkyla (in Finnish).

The Urban Environment Committee decided on the competition to sell the buildings in its meeting on 15 April.