The design process was triggered by the need to improve the efficiency of government office operations on the block.
The old police station was demolished and the operations were relocated. The remaining part of the plot was planned for residential use.
The block is centrally located right next to the main railway line. The block is bordered to the north by Helsingintie, to the east by Mannilantie, to the south by Huvilakatu and to the west by a pedestrian and bicycle way. The urban framework varies in different parts of the block. To the north is the new central quarter and to the south is a 1960s residential area. The coordination of different scales has been an important part of the urban design solution.
The new buildings are positioned in the street space so that the block is integrated into the urban landscape. The façade design and materials of the new buildings take into account the materials and scale of the adjacent buildings. As a reminder of the demolished police station, a piece of history has been preserved by choosing burnt brick as the street-side façade material for the residential buildings.
