Saukonlaituri Parking Facility by ALA Architects: A Green, Multi-Functional Urban Infrastructure in the Heart of Helsinki

As Helsinki boldly reclaims its former harbor districts for sustainable urban living, the Saukonlaituri Parking Facility, designed by ALA Architects, stands as a pioneering example of how infrastructure can enrich a city’s fabric. Located in Jätkäsaari, a 100-hectare waterfront redevelopment area just outside Helsinki’s city center, the project redefines what a parking structure can be—not just a utilitarian shell, but an ecologically integrated, socially valuable, and visually expressive civic asset.

A Response to Urban Redevelopment and Density

The transformation of Jätkäsaari from a cargo port into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood—with housing for 21,000 people and 6,000 jobs—called for smart infrastructure solutions. The high water table and costs of underground construction made subterranean parking impractical. Simultaneously, the city aimed to reduce curbside parking, encouraging walkability and urban greenery.

To meet these needs, Helsinki launched a series of architecturally ambitious above-ground parking structures. Saukonlaituri is the first of these, and it sets a high standard.

Program and Design Concept

Spanning 19,700 m² over five levels, the facility accommodates 600 cars, including electric vehicle charging stations. Its unconventional five-cornered footprint spirals around a landscaped inner courtyard filled with moss, ferns, and boulders. This courtyard serves both a visual and functional role: it brings natural light into the lower levels and retains stormwater and snow runoff, enhancing the building’s environmental resilience.

Terraced Park Integration

On the southern facade, ALA Architects designed a unique terraced park that gently rises from street level to the rooftop. This green staircase allows residents of neighboring buildings to access their parked vehicles on different levels—not through elevators, but by walking or relaxing along the sunlit terraces. In warmer months, these stepped gardens also become community leisure spaces for sunbathing or picnicking.

Materiality and Urban Camouflage

Structurally, the facility is built from cast-in-situ concrete, with facades composed of prefabricated terracotta elementsset within galvanized steel frames. The earthy tones of the unglazed terracotta blend effortlessly with the surrounding brick-clad residential buildings, softening the facility’s massive volume and giving it a dune-like aesthetic. This color palette and design pay homage to Saukko Island, a natural formation once in the area but now erased through land reclamation—its memory lives on in the facility’s name and atmosphere.

More Than Just Parking

Beyond parking, the building houses maintenance depots for both a private operator and the Helsinki City Housing Company (HEKA), extending its civic role. The project also supports the city’s climate action goals, promoting EV adoption and public realm enhancements.

ALA Architects are currently applying similar principles in the Melkinlaituri Parking Facility, also in Jätkäsaari, building on the success of this model.

All the photograhps are works of Tuomas Uusheimo