The international real estate industry will gather in Cannes, March 10-13 for the MIPIM fair, I’d imagine it will be a sombre affair taking place as it is agaisnt a backdrop of a projected world recession. But Greater Helsinki is bringing an exhibition stand there and it is a historic time for the city as the largest change in Helsinkis’ structure is going on now. When the cargo ports were transferred in 2008 from the city centre to Vuosaari, some 250 hectares of waterfront area were vacated, and here Helsinki will  build 4,5 million floor sqm for housing and almost 2,5 million floor sqm of commercial space. This means homes for about 100 000 people and jobs for tens of thousands. Six urban development projects will be on display at MIPIM. They are Jätkäsaari, Kruunuvuorenranta, Kalasatama, Arabianranta, Finlandiapark and Pasila, and there is website that covers them called Dynamic Helsinki and you can download the pdf brochure too.

Taken seperately most of these urban projects detailed would be a little uninspiring but together they form a coherent whole which has shortcomings but I think acts as a good basic blueprint for modern urbanisation as opposed to the indiscreet suburbanisation that we see mostly in Helsinki. However against the backdrop of what will probably turn into the first great world depression, it is hard to see at the moment how this vision will be achieved. No doubt the general urbanisation seen in Finland since WWII and continuing since may actually accelerate as Finlands’ traditional industries like the paper and timber industry continue to shrink. This means that the plans for greater Helsinki may not be affected much even as smaller towns and cities in Finland bear the brunt of the economic pain.

Regardless the marketing of dynamic helsinki of which Richard Florida would no doubt approve has started to take place. I’m partially optimistic the vision is achieveable even if we are yet to see the pain first.