The historic public swimming pool on Yrjönkatu is one of the city’s gems
The public swimming pool on Yrjönkatu is one of Helsinki’s most beloved leisure destinations year after year. Despite its compact size, the indoor swimming pool, which has retained its original appearance for almost a hundred years, attracts 300-800 customers every day and is considered by many residents and tourists to be the most atmospheric venue in Helsinki.
The indoor swimming pool on Yrjönkatu exudes a unique and historic spa atmosphere right in the heart of Helsinki. The trademark of the unique swimming hall is that swimmers are not required to wear a bathing suit, which is why the opening hours are divided into women’s and men’s shifts.
For an additional fee, you can access the 2nd floor where you will find peaceful private cabins offering old-time spa atmosphere, restaurant Café Yrjö and relaxing wood-fired, steam and infrared saunas, in addition swimming in the 25-metre swimming pool on the 1st floor.
The Yrjönkatu swimming hall is also a popular venue for other sports. Helsinki Sports Services offer guided water sports and gym classes for the elderly on the 3rd and 6th floors, swimming schools for children and group exercise classes for adults and the elderly.
Touch of history
The swimming pool on Yrjönkatu was the oldest public indoor swimming pool in Finland, and it used to be the only one of its kind for decades. It was designed by architect Väinö Vähäkallio and inaugurated on 4 June 1928. Originally, the Yrjönkatu swimming hall was home to several different services, housing not only a swimming pool, but also a tennis court, a physical treatment facility, a hairdressing salon, a dance school, an ironing shop and a restaurant with dancing. Even today, the Yrjönkatu swimming hall offers various services, such as the restaurant Café Yrjö, different saunas, the cabins on the second floor, group exercise classes and a gym. But what will the classic venue look like in the future?
The neoclassical and atmospheric Yrjönkatu swimming hall, built in the 1920s, will undergo renovation, and its services will be renewed in the coming years. The aim of the renewal is to develop the swimming hall’s services to be more customer-oriented and environmentally friendly – while respecting the history and magnificent atmosphere of the swimming hall. Participate in the joint development of the Yrjönkatu swimming hall and share your own requests and development ideas.
This is how the project will progress
After decades of active use, the time has come to renovate the premises and update our understanding of what relaxation and bathing in an old-time spa atmosphere in a beautiful setting in the middle of the city centre can mean. The renewal will make the services more customer-oriented and improve effectiveness and environmental friendliness, in accordance with the carbon-neutral programme of the City of Helsinki.
The planning of the renovation of the Yrjönkatu swimming hall will proceed in stages. The needs assessment was discussed by the Board in February 2022, the project plan was drawn up in 2022, and the construction work will begin at the start of 2024. The renovated swimming pool is scheduled to open in late summer 2025.
In 2022, residents were able to express their wishes, give feedback and share their ideas for development in the Kerro kantasi online discussion. During the year, an online community was also established, as well as a test group for volunteers, who took part in a workshop and a usability walk in the Yrjönkatu swimming hall.