Shopping center Pasaati: versatile and long-term design work

Year: 2006

Space: 57 000 m2

Service: Master planning, architectural design

Adaptable retail space in the center of Kotka

The central part of the Pasaati shopping center was originally an old business center from the 1960’s. A shopping center serving modern urban life was wanted in the city’s central quarter, next to the market square. Laitila Architects had already made plans for a new shopping center for part of the block in the 1980s. Hannu Laitila’s idea of getting a pedestrian connection from the market square to the end of Sibeliuksenpuisto park on Ruotsinsalmenkatu street in the middle of the block was also the basic idea behind the new plan.

Since the buildings in the block were from different eras, built in different elevations and equipped with different floor heights, combining them was challenging. Some of the buildings were protected, some demolished and some repaired. A major challenge for the construction company was the different owners on different plots, who had to get behind the project.

In addition to the shopping center, the Toriparkki parking lot, located under the adjacent market square, was also designed, and built in connection with it, with a direct access to the shopping center. The project has been one of our most extensive ones.

Sustainable solutions considering the special characteristics of the property.

A distinctive feature of shopping center projects can be the constant need for alterations – the premises must be easy to modify. A shopping center must be able to attract both tenants and customers. Thus, spaces must adapt to unique needs and preferences. In a large property, there is a regular need for internal alterations and repairs.

The differences in the heights of the buildings and the accessibility required by law were a combination that had to be considered in Pasaati’s original design. The interest rate differences were solved with the help of correctly positioned lifts and ramps, among other things, to ensure that customers would have as unobstructed and smooth opportunity to move around the shopping center as possible.

Versatile planning and modifications

In addition to fashion and groceries, Pasaati has tenants in many other industries. The center offers many health care services, such as a medical centre and gym, as well as office space, such as the editorial office of the regional newspaper and the regional editorial office of YLE. We have also been involved in the design of these facilities.

Shopping center Pasaati is a project of exceptionally large proportions, in which we have been involved for decades, from the preliminary stages of design work to today’s repairs and changes. Cooperation with Pasaati has been fruitful and continues to this day.

Whereas in the beginning the focus was on the design and construction of the shopping center building itself. Nowadays we focus on alterations in the shopping center, which come up regularly. As a project, Pasaati has been not only long-lasting, but also versatile and interesting.