Arabianranta

Arabianranta (Finnish) or Arabiastranden (Swedish) is a residential part of Helsinki, Finland. It is bound by Vanhankaupunginlahti bay from east, and connects to neighboring boroughs of Vanhakaupunki in north, Hermanni in south and Toukola and Kumpula in west. It is part of the greater Toukola region. The City of Helsinki requires all developers in the Arabianranta area to use 1-2% of the building investments of individual sites for works of art. This rule has been followed since the launching of development in the area 2000. Therefore, works of arts are visible around the district. Artists, designers and craftsmen put their stamp on buildings, objects and a communal spirit that gives energy. The district is easily accessible by bus and trams, it takes around 10 minutes to get to the city centre.

The district is divided in mainly 3 hubs. The Hämeentie Factory District is the heart of the Arabia region where you can find an unbroken tradition of design.

The Swedish King Gustav Vasa founded Helsinki on the mouth of the Vantaa River in 1550. The Annala Gardens on the west side of Hämeentie was founded in the 1820s.

At the southern end of Arabia, there is the Majstranden, which translates into English as May Beach. The present showcases of functional buildings were constructed in an area that was originally wasteland. Artist Johanna Hyrkäs has designed an art trail which combines the buildings and the art gardens.

One of the most important factories located in this neighbourhood is that of Arabia ceramics. This company was once the biggest ceramics factory in all of Europe. The building complex houses facilities for the Helsinki University of Art and Design as well as an interesting museum which is part of the Helsinki Design Museum. Although many people think that Arabianranta (the coast or shoreline of Arabia) derives its name from the famous Arabia ceramics and glassware factory, the name Arabia or rather “Arabian ja Kaanaan maa” (the land of Arabia and Canaan) is already found in documents dated back to the 18th century whereas the Arabia factory was founded not until the year 1871.

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Wikipedia