South Harbour development begins with renovation of Makasiinilaituri Quay

The City of Helsinki will begin construction work on Makasiinilaituri Quay, located north of Olympia Terminal and Satamatalo, in early August. The renovation of Makasiinilaituri Quay is the first phase in the renewal of the Makasiiniranta area. The renovation will involve reinforcing the seawall and stabilising the soil, enabling the area to be developed. 

Most of the construction site is located in the current harbour area, and the work will not significantly affect traffic in the area. The work will generate noise, especially during the installation of the drilled piles. The contractor for the project is GRK Suomi Oy. 

The modernisation of Makasiinilaituri Quay will be completed by October 2026. The renovation of Pakkahuoneenlaituri Quay, located north of Makasiinilaituri Quay, is scheduled to begin in October 2025 and be completed in spring 2027. 

First buildings set to be completed at the turn of the 2030s 

The City will develop the South Harbour area over the coming years as part of the walkable city centre. A new museum of architecture and design will be built in Makasiiniranta, along with the Saaret project, which won a separate design competition and consists of four buildings containing hotel, office and commercial space. The aim is to develop Makasiiniranta into a pleasant public space that complements the waterfront trail around the Helsinki peninsula in the section between the Market Square and Kaivopuisto.  

At the moment, the Makasiiniranta area is mainly used for the port’s terminal operations and parking. Port operations in the northern part of the area will cease, enabling the area to be developed. The plan for the future is to concentrate regular cruiseferry services in West Harbour and Katajanokka. Olympiaranta will continue to accommodate visiting cruise ships. 

The planning of the Makasiiniranta area will progress to the draft plan stage at the end of 2025, and the aim is for the City Council to decide on the local detailed plans in summer 2026. According to the preliminary schedule, street construction and preconstruction in the area will begin in early 2027. The Museum of Architecture and Design and the first phase of the Saaret project will be completed at the turn of the 2030s. 

The winner of the museum design competition will be announced in September

An internationally recognized design competition was held for the Museum of Architecture and Design, and the winner will be announced on September 11. The goal is to create a world-class architecture and design museum that serves both as a tourist attraction and as the national museum in its field.