Karakallio

Central Block

The project is located in Karakallio, Espoo, along the main street Karakalliontie, between the public square and the Karatalo Cultural Centre. The new central block forms a cohesive ensemble consisting of three residential apartment buildings, a grocery store, a courtyard building, and a parking facility serving the entire block.

The first phase comprises a grocery store located on the eastern side of the block along the edge of the square, and a four-storey residential apartment building. The ground floor of the residential building includes commercial premises facing the square. The building contains 27 apartments, which are ARA-financed rental units with an average size of approximately 60 m². These two buildings were completed in 2024.

The second phase includes a six-storey, two-staircase residential apartment building positioned along Karakalliontie on the southern edge of the block, a green-roofed courtyard building, and a green-roofed parking facility serving the entire block, located in the northern part of the site. The parking facility comprises three above-ground levels and one underground level.

At the end of the residential building facing the square, there is a commercial space that can be divided into two units. The building contains 101 rental apartments with an average size of 46 m². These buildings were completed in 2025.

On the western side of the block, along Kotkatie, an eight-storey, two-staircase residential apartment building with a basement level is planned. The building will include both rental and owner-occupied housing. At the southern end of the building, there is a commercial space that can be divided into four smaller units. The building will contain 48 apartments with an average size of 53 m². Construction is estimated to begin in 2026.

Materials and
Colour Palette

Karakallio is a suburb built in the 1960s and 1970s, where infill development remained very limited until the 2020s. The architectural expression of the block is contemporary while strongly respecting the character of the existing building stock.

The façades of the residential buildings are primarily composed of brick slip cladding in off-white and warm grey tones, light-coloured render, and glazed balconies. The balcony railings are opaque glass panels.

The façades of the grocery store and the courtyard building are finished with brick slip cladding.

The naturally ventilated façades of the parking structure are primarily clad in perforated metal panels. On the courtyard side of the block, the façade is covered with climbing plants.