Loisto residential tower in Kalasatama

The Kalasatama area brings together an experiential shopping centre, a business premises tower and Finland’s tallest residential towers to form an unprecedented whole. The eight towers being built in the area constitute the largest construction project in SRV’s history, and they are the first in Finland to offer high-rise living in a skyscraper. At the same time, they are creating and shaping future high-rise construction practices.

“High-rise construction supports sustainable urban development when plots are used efficiently in a dense urban environment by building upwards and close to good public transport connections,” says Jorma Seppä, SRV’s Executive Vice President, Housing Construction.

High-rise construction requires specialised equipment and solutions

Construction of Loisto and the other Kalasatama towers began already during the building of REDI. The towers are anchored deep into the bedrock so that the rock mass acts as a counterweight. In practice, holes approximately 20 metres deep were drilled into the bedrock, and the anchors located at the corners of the towers were inserted into them.

Loisto was built using in-situ concrete casting. A climbing formwork system was used for the casting and was raised upwards by crane or hydraulic jack. The site also featured Finland’s first use of Kone’s JumpLift lift. JumpLift rose with the building by relocating its machine room upward, ensuring that the construction team always had a fast and safe lift throughout the build. This meant workers could reach the upper floors more quickly, and for example the façade could be enclosed earlier.

Developing high-rise construction is reshaping practices across the entire construction sector. The expertise and experience gained enable SRV to offer a broad product range for urban development solutions, of which high-rise construction is one part.

Services designed for residents’ needs

Loisto is located at the eastern tip of the growing and popular Kalasatama residential area, offering breathtaking views. Residents also enjoy experiential shared spaces located high above the city: a club room, a roof terrace and a sauna area with sea views.

Loisto has 32 floors and 249 apartments. Apartment sizes range from 38 square metres to more than 131 square metres. A wide selection of shared facilities adds comfort to everyday living: a large party room, a sauna area with a bath and jacuzzi, several smaller sauna areas, a spacious outdoor terrace and a summer kitchen with impressive views. Loisto also includes a gym, bookable remote working space and a guest apartment. Directly below the tower, just one lift ride away, are the services of the REDI shopping centre. The metro station in the same location ensures easy connections.

“High-rise construction in urban centres enables service concepts never before seen in Finland, allowing people to free up time from everyday routines for activities they enjoy. Diverse services and well-designed shared spaces are, according to our resident surveys, highly valued by those living in the towers,” says Lotta Toivonen, Development Manager for Housing Services.