Helsinki-Malmi Airport, Airport in Malmi district, Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki-Malmi Airport is an airport in the Malmi district that opened in 1936 and displays functionalist design with round windows, curved surfaces, and white exterior walls typical of that period. The terminal was designed by architects Dag Englund and Vera Rosendahl, and the site includes runways, taxiways, and surrounding grounds still recognizable from its aviation days.
The airport opened in 1936 and served as Finland's main international gateway until 1952, when Helsinki-Vantaa took over that role. During the Winter War, the Finnish Air Force took control and operated it as a military base, then civilian operations resumed in 1946.
The terminal reflects how aviation was viewed as a symbol of progress in the 1930s, and the building remains a focal point of the Malmi district's identity. The structure shows how travel infrastructure shaped local pride during that era.
The site is surrounded by public green spaces, with a walking path around the former runways that is flat and easy to navigate at your own pace. The grounds are open for visitors to explore, and the location is accessible by foot from the surrounding neighborhood.
The site is now a protected heritage landmark despite no longer operating as an airport, making it rare in Europe to find a full aviation campus preserved this way. Local groups work to maintain the grounds and terminal, keeping the history accessible to the public.
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