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Kulttuurikasarmi brings new life to Helsinki city centre in a historic barracks building. SRV carried out a demanding major refurbishment and extension, bringing a cinema, restaurants and event spaces to the Lasipalatsi block.
Kulttuurikasarmi, completed in the Lasipalatsi block in Kamppi in 2023, is a meeting place for city residents that brings new life to Helsinki city centre. SRV delivered the Kulttuurikasarmi project by extending and carrying out a major refurbishment of the old barracks building, which dates back to the 1830s.
True to its name, Kulttuurikasarmi is a cultural hub offering visitors a wide range of experiences. The versatile 4,400-square-metre complex includes a BioRex cinema, restaurants, an event space, a pavilion and a performance stage.
Historic construction project in the heart of the city
The comprehensive refurbishment of the historic building began in October 2021. For the underground parts of the building frame and cinema level, we excavated a total of 2,400 cubic metres of rock to a depth of nearly ten metres. The underground level also required substantial concrete structures.
The interior of the old building, including partitions and intermediate floors, was almost entirely demolished. The old protected façade was supported with 75 steel piles. The building's foundations were extensively strengthened and the entire interior was renewed.
To preserve layers of the building's history, the old ceramic stove was protected during construction, samples of the original wallpaper were preserved and brick walls were restored. The spiral staircase between the floors, known as the “Gilda staircase”, was constructed from three sections weighing 4,000 kilograms each.
A meeting place for culture
The project, which attracted considerable interest among Helsinki residents, was completed in the city centre after two years. The result is a unique and welcoming space in a central location on the site of the former bus station.
In the major refurbishment, we wanted to preserve the building's historical and architectural values. The building now has two above-ground floors and an attic. Spaces for three cinema auditoriums were excavated underground. In addition to the major refurbishment, we renovated and restored the building's façades.
The completed project combines our expertise in major refurbishment and urban development.
Kulttuurikasarmi brings together a central location, the complete major refurbishment of a protected building, demanding excavation works, challenging concrete and steel frame structures and the requirements of several different types of space. Building services engineering also played a significant role in the project, bringing its own particular challenges to the refurbishment as cables and technical systems were installed in the confined spaces of the old building frame.
Explore SRV’s refurbishment and modernisation services
SRV brings experience from demanding refurbishment projects together with strong building services engineering expertise, from design through to implementation.
Explore SRV’s refurbishment references
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