Kalasatama Urban Lab

Thanks to Martela’s service model, Kalasatama Urban Lab is a highly flexible space for various events and workshops

Kalasatama Urban Lab, located in the REDI shopping centre, is a co-creation and event space initiated by the Smart Kalasatama project, which acts as a meeting place for companies, residents and the city’s industries. Designers Leena Raudaskoski and Anna-Mari Knuuti from design studio Yesper wanted to make Kalasatama Urban Lab a space which can be used independently and which adapts to a great variety of needs.

“The starting point for the design was an extremely flexible, ecological and functional space which can easily be modified by changing the furnishing. The aim was to make the space suitable for workshops, meetings and exhibitions and, if needed, be transformed into many uses, like even for yoga lessons,” Raudaskoski and Knuuti list as examples.

Owing to Martela’s service model (WaaS), the furnishing can now be modified to suit each situation.

“Besides, the service model is an ecological solution, because the unused pieces of furniture are recirculated. It reduces environmental load,” the designers say.

The circular economy and smart use of resources direct the activities

Kalasatama is a model area for Helsinki’s climate goals, where various smart solutions and forms of the sharing economy are being developed and experimented with. At Kalasatama, there are already some shared parking lots, areas and cars.

“We are currently developing the Spaces as a Service approach, in which furnishing the space as a service supports the idea very well,” says Community Manager Maija Bergström of the Smart Kalasatama project from Forum Virium.

“We were looking for an innovative partner for Kalasatama Urban Lab, and Martela was prepared to see how well their service model fits quick-cycle furnishing and modification of the space in a way that the furnishings could change according to needs of the events, if necessary, daily. This service is well-suited to a model area for climate goals. In Kalasatama Urban Lab we want to utilize Martela Outlet selection and in this way keep the carbon footprint low. We are eager to see the results of the cooperation,” Bergström says.