Lauttasaari is an island and neighbourhood of Western Helsinki

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

 (Helsingfors in Swedish), about 3 kilometres west of the city centre.

With a population of 19000, Lauttasaari is primarily a residential area but also contains services, including several marinas and canoe clubs. Although close to the city centre, Lauttasaari is noted for its preserved forest areas and rocky outcrops.

The highway Länsiväylä

Länsiväylä

is a motorway in the Greater Helsinki area of Finland, mainly at the Helsinki conurbation. It is part of the Finnish national road 51. The road begins in Ruoholahti in western Helsinki and continues west through the island of Lauttasaari and then across the city border to Espoo. The Länsiväylä road...

(Västerleden in Swedish, literally Western Route) linking central Helsinki with Espoo

Espoo

Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....

, passes through Lauttasaari.

The name Lauttasaari literally means "ferry island" although the island is now connected to Helsinki and Espoo

Espoo

Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....

 by bridges and causeways.

Vattuniemi

Vattuniemi is a section of Lauttasaari on the southern end of the island. The area was built up in the 1950s as an industrial zone. Since 2000, there has been a significant change in the markup of the area, and several office and industrial facilities have been demolished, with apartments being built to replace them. Currently, the median price of residential property is relatively high, causing the residential makeup to consist of the young and affluent. The main street on the western side of the area is Särkiniementie, and the eastern main street is Vattuniemenkatu.

Katajaharju

Katajaharju is a section of Lauttasaari in the north-western side of the island. The entire area is on the north side of Länsiväylä highway, and is primarily private residential houses. The area is or has been the home of several notable Finns, including the national entertainer Spede Pasanen

Spede Pasanen

Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, humorist, inventor, TV personality and practitioner of gags....

, the Finnish Rally Driver Markku Alen

Markku Alén

Markku Allan Alén is a Finnish former rally and race car driver. He drove for Fiat, Lancia, Subaru and Toyota in the World Rally Championship, and held the record for most stage wins in the series until 2011...

 and formerly, the great Finnish hockey legend, Teemu Selänne

Teemu Selänne

Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

.

Public Buildings

The Lauttasaari church, the Myllykallio school, and the old Management Studies Institute building are amongst the examples of 1950s construction for public spaces on the island. The church was inaugurated on October 20, 1958, and was designed by professor Keijo Petäjä, who himself was a resident of Lauttasaari. The church steeple was placed into service in the autumn of 1957.

History

Lauttasaari was a largely undeveloped part of the borough of Huopalahti

Huopalahti

Huopalahti was a municipality during the years 1920–1945 in Uusimaa, Finland. The municipality was bilingual.Current areas of Munkkiniemi, Lauttasaari and parts of northern Pasila were parts of Huopalahti....

 (Hoplax) until that borough was annexed to the city of Helsinki on January 1, 1946.

Lauttasaari metro station

Lauttasaari metro station

Lauttasaari metro station is a planned underground station to be built on the western metro extension of the Helsinki Metro in Finland, which is currently under construction.-External links:*...

 is going to be a stop on the Länsimetro

Länsimetro

The Western Metro Extension will be an extension of the Helsinki Metro system from central Helsinki, Finland, to the neighbouring city of Espoo. The new stretch of line will extend from the existing Ruoholahti metro station via the island of Lauttasaari, the Aalto University School of Science and...

, Helsinki metro extension.