Bedrock resources and their use in Helsinki

Finland's geology lends itself to development of underground space, and Helsinki has used its subsurface for an increasing variety of purposes. In the Finnish capital city, several city planning offices—including the Geotechnical Department, the Building Supervision Office, and the City Planning Department—are involved in the process of subsurface space development. The paper provides an overview of current and possible future uses of Helsinki's bedrock resource, and describes the Rock Engineering 2000 Technology Programme now underway.     

Subsurface public assembly spaces in Finland

One of the most famous public spaces in Finland built underground in rock is the Retretti art centre and concert hall. This paper describes the Retretti caverns, as well as the Kannussillanmaki Theatre, near Espoo. In addition, the authors provide information about two underground projects now in the planning stages: a cultural and sports centre on an island near Helsink; and a space for public meetings and exhibitions, underneath Sibelius Park.