Little before ten on Saturday morning, the Lapinlahti hospital area in Helsinki seems to be dozing off. The buildings seem to be empty, the flea market and the cafe are closed. An old crow croaks, further away on the sea ice a lone skier chirps silently. You can't even see people outdoors.
In the peaceful milieu, you forget how the future of Lapinlahti is in the midst of the fierce turmoil. The over 180-year-old protected value building is in terrible condition and would need extensive renovation, the price tag of which is estimated to be several tens of millions of euros. Who would take the booth? The city of Helsinki's number one wish has been that it could form a real estate company with real estate giant Nrep that would take care of the hospital area.
However, the fresh municipal initiative would like to keep Lapinlahti under the ownership of the city, so that culture, mental health services and workshops would continue to be available.
There is a buzz around the Lapinlahti hospital area. The buildings are in poor condition and would require extensive renovation.
Suddenly, the crunch of footsteps can be heard from the snowy dirt road. Father and son are walking down the hill.
“We came to see if the artisan bakery is still standing,” he says Andove Rotov.
Son Kevin Rotov5, is hopeful.
“Here are the best breads, I can't stand it! You can eat them naked,” says Kevin.
The Rotovits live in Jätkäsaari and visit Lapinlahti regularly to refuel with peace.
“This is a nice rustic place. There is a small beach down there, where we have taken a dip in the summer,” Rotov says, gesturing behind the buildings.
Kevin Rotov, 5, was happy when the bakery was open, even though it was otherwise quiet. Father Andove Rotov says that in the summer the family goes swimming in Lapinlahti.
Entrepreneur by Michael Aston the small bakery has opened a minute ago, but there is already a bread line of three people at the door. It's second in line Marjukka Heliövaara.
He is buying toast to take to Joensuu for his daughter and her family.
A week ago on the weekend, Heliövaara also participated in the history tour organized at Lapinlahti Hospital.
“Yes, you noticed that the premises would require a proper renovation. It would be great to preserve the buildings, but how will it be financed,” Heliövaara ponders.
Marjukka Heliövaara bought a loaf of bread from the artisan bakery Primo to take to her daughter in Joensuu. Heliövaara is concerned about the condition of Lapinlahti's buildings.
HS told on Friday, that according to a recent condition survey by the design company Afry, the building is in even worse condition than previously known: floor structures and some of the ducts have collapsed, the roof and pipes are leaking, and the house has extensive asbestos, mold and rot damage.
The renovation of Rakennusvanhus may turn out to be even more expensive than predicted, and HS reported on Friday that Nrep has considered withdrawing from the project. In the current plans, a hostel has been planned for the area, among other things.
“If the hostel comes, it would be a big disappointment. This is an important outdoor oasis in the middle of urban Helsinki. In the summer, I've been to the flea markets here. I hope this will be saved”, says the person who walks his dogs Cinta and Franki in Lapinlahti every day Kaisa Jyrä.
Kaisa Jyrä walks her dogs in Lapinlahti every day. He does not want a hostel in the area.
There are two opposing views: the real estate giant Nrepi's wish for the commercial future of the Lapinlahti hospital area, and the wish of some of the townspeople for the continuation of small-scale operations.
Nrep has submitted requests for tenders to several contractors specializing in renovation construction and is expecting responses to the contract requests within a few weeks. Then the saga of the Lapinlahti hospital area will go one step further.
“If this goes, it's a bad thing. In Helsinki, there is a need for places where you can come as you like, to seek well-being and bread. Miki Liukkonen too visited here”, says entrepreneur Michael Aston.
Michael Aston has served several cultural influencers in his small bakery, including the late artist Miki Liukko.
The church bells of the nearby Hietaniemi chapel chime eleven times. The sound echoes in the silent landscape.
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