An amendment to the local detailed plan is being prepared for the western bank of the Aura River estuary. This marks a major step in the development of Linnanniemi surrounding Turku Castle.
The plan enables the construction of a residential-focused block in the Forum Marinum area and opens up a former port traffic area as a publicly accessible waterfront promenade.
The plan, known as Merikortteli (en. ‘Maritime Neighbourhood’), is being prepared for land owned by the City of Turku. The planning area includes, among other things, port traffic areas, the maritime centre Forum Marinum, and several historically significant museum ships.
The objectives of the Merikortteli plan are based on the development principles defined for Linnanniemi. Key guiding principles include opening up the Aura River shoreline as an attractive, publicly accessible promenade, and constructing a new residential-focused block around Forum Marinum.
Timo Hintsanen, Director of Urban Planning at the City of Turku, says the aim is to create an inviting urban space in Linnanniemi for both residents and visitors.
– We want to strengthen the maritime character of Linnanniemi and introduce functions, events, and housing that suit its atmosphere. Merikortteli along the Aura River will primarily become an attractive residential area with a strong maritime identity, says Hintsanen.
– In addition, the spatial needs of Forum Marinum and the museum ships play a key role in the planning, as does the redevelopment of the former port traffic area. A new crossing over the Aura River is also under consideration, provided a solution can be found that does not interfere with river traffic, he continues.
Linnanniemi Is Developed Sustainably
The proximity of Turku Castle sets important conditions for development in Merikortteli, as the castle must retain its dominant position in the cityscape. New construction will be carefully adapted in scale to the landscape values and the historically valuable built environment. The ground floors of the new residential block are intended to accommodate a variety of maritime-related functions.
The renewal will create a pleasant and safe pedestrian environment in the area, particularly along the Aura River waterfront. At the same time, cycling routes will be improved. Parking solutions will be designed to fit the high-quality urban environment, and future public transport solutions will be taken into account in the solutions.
– Sustainable urban development is at the core of Linnanniemi. A competition will be organised to find a development partner for Merikortteli, using the area as a platform for diverse sustainable solutions, says Hintsanen.
The aim for new construction is to implement solutions with as low carbon emissions as possible. The amount of vegetation and biodiversity in the area will be increased, and stormwater management and coastal flood risks will also be taken into account in the plans.
The City Board of Turku approved the objectives of the Merikortteli plan on 30 March 2026. As the plan amendment has significant impacts, its final approval will be decided by the City Council.
On May 7, at 17–18.30, a public event will be arranged in Forum Marinum (Seminar Room Bryggan), where the objectives and the planning process are presented to an audience. Welcome!
- The renewal of Linnanniemi is enabled by the joint terminal of the Port of Turku, scheduled for completion in 2027, which will free up areas currently used by port operations for other purposes.
- The redevelopment of Linnanniemi is guided by the City of Turku Strategy and the development principles approved for the area by the City Board.
- The development is also guided by the Linnanniemi master plan, which is based on the winning proposal of the international idea competition for Linnanniemi held in 2020.
- The Linnanniemi art programme aims to integrate public art into the planning and construction of the area.