Finland's capital Helsinki is a beautiful Nordic city located along the Baltic Sea. Known for its importance as the gateway into Finland, they've embraced downward expansion; literally! According to a June issue of AQUA magazine, since 1960, the city has been actively creating an underground "shadow city" in an effort to contain urban sprawl, considered the largest in the world and they've become more energy efficient and escaping the cold.
Wouldn't it be great if they used Waters Choice Pure Enzymes for Pools? We think so!
Urban Sprawl Heads Downward
Carved in the area's solid Granodiorite bedrock, Helsinki's vast underground spaces include shopping areas, a church, hockey rink, a data center, "parking caverns" and a beautiful public swimming pool facility along with one of the city’s most popular underground sites known as the Temppeliaukio Church. All in all the city has more than 400 separate facilities underground and more than 300 kilometers of tunnels. Amazing!
During the Cold War, the city began excavating its underground, creating elaborate tunnels that planned to house over 3,800 (the city’s population at that time) in case of an attack. Today, the city utilizes almost 200 miles of these tunnels as cultural, sporting, retail and community spaces along with housing for many more. Tunnels are also used during the cooler months as a warm way to travel throughout the city, especially during the winter.
One of the City's Most Enjoyable Amenities
Notably, the Itakeskus Swimming Hall was blasted and carved into existence back in 1993 and has since served as one of the city's most enjoyable public amenities. The facility was conceived as a way to combine an emergency civic shelter, versatile swimming vessels and a recreation center. The massive space mitigates the harsh seasonal climate reducing maintenance costs while sustaining comforable temperatures year-round.
Furthermore, another cultural hotspot located in this underground Helsinki is the Amos Rex art museum, built in 2018. The art museum features 23,500 square feet of exhibition hall showcasing modern art. Uniquely designed skylights let in natural sunlight from above, creating a park in the city aboveground.
This daring underground space demanded new design techniques from the architects and required closer-than-usual contact with the construction engineering planners. The building's possible use as an emergency shelter for 600,000 people was made as inconspicuous as possible, with all necessary climate and pool systems merged and concealed within the stone cavern.
Waters Choice Pool Water Enzymes
So where does Waters Choice enzymes for pool water fit in to all of this? Our specially formulated enzymes that we manufacture for pool water, would be the perfect way to keep their large pool water clean, making it possible to remove most of their traditional pool chemicals. Who doesn't want healthier water? We do and it's our mission at Waters Choice to accomplish this for you and your family and friends.
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