The age of prefabricated buildings.

New is good, old is bad

Industrialization exerts a heavy influence on housing construction methods, creating a need for new funding methods that are developed from the 1960s onwards. In 1966 the parish of Vuosaari is made part of the city of Helsinki, and a major new harbour and power plant are planned for the new district.

Prefabricated building materials bring about major changes in construction methods, and in architectural style. During the economic boom years of the 1960s and 1970s, old city centre buildings are demolished at a frantic rate, and box-shaped office buildings and stores are put in their place. City centre apartments are converted into offices, with the residents moving to the suburbs.

During the 1980s, new residential areas are built in Helsinki’s emptied-out former industrial zones and in the wooden housing areas skirting the city. Very large district centres are built around the Helsinki region, with services and recreational facilities of their own.