Café Ursula was originally built as a summer café for the 1952 Olympic year. Over time, the building has become technically outdated, and despite several expansions, renovating the restaurant to meet the needs of modern restaurant operations and increasing customer traffic is not feasible in a cost-effective manner. Therefore, the decision has been made to replace the existing building with a new structure.
Café Ursula is set to close according to the current plans in the autumn of 2026, though the café-restaurant will continue to serve customers as usual until then. The new building is expected to be completed by spring 2027.
Once the new building is ready, Café Ursula will continue its operations as a café and restaurant, with improved services, including better options for corporate meetings and events. The change will enable Café Ursula to provide year-round services while maintaining its inviting atmosphere
“The discussions with the city’s building supervision have been conducted in a positive spirit, and we are in the process of applying for a deviation permit for the current zoning plan“, says Miia Kinnunen, Director of Development of Tradeka-Yhtiöt Oy, which manages Café Ursula.
“To keep our customers informed about the project’s plans and various stages, we will launch a dedicated website for the project, ursula2027.ursula.fi, where we will offer the opportunity for comments and sharing personal Ursula memories“, says Kinnunen.
The facade and preliminary floor plan designs are almost ready for the necessary permit applications, while the interior design and building systems planning have not yet been started.
“The new Ursula will still feature both Merisali and Puistosali, as well as the familiar white sail. Completely new is the second floor, where the meeting rooms and the sun terrace offer an unobstructed view of Suomenlinna and the sea“, says Restaurant Director Katriina Lehtonen.
During the construction, the restaurant will receive technical facilities that meet current standards, as well as a more efficient loading and waste disposal area directly from Ehrenströmintie. At the same time, the goods traffic will be removed from the pedestrian and bicycle path. With the project, accessibility, versatile year-round usability, and sustainability will improve compared to the current setup.
“The spirit of Ursula will not be lost with the new building. Visiting Ursula is a unifying experience for many generations, and now we can ensure its continuity for the next 70 years.“, Lehtonen continues.
“Our mission will remain the same: we are the city dwellers’ living room with a sea view, a gathering place from morning to evening, all year round. With the new premises, we will also focus on our own baked goods“, says Lehtonen.
The floor area of the new building will increase by about a third, which will also allow for an increase in the number of seating. The building will be raised to the current flood level, which will help ensure the continuation of the café and restaurant operations for the next 70 years. At the same time, there will be an opportunity to renovate and landscape the courtyard area.
The architectural design of Café Ursula is handled by the winner of the invited competition held in the spring of 2024, Avarrus Arkkitehdit Oy.
“In the design of the new wooden building, the traditional Café Ursula has been respected. In addition to familiar features, the building will reflect influences from Japanese wooden architecture and coastal cliffs. When completed, the new Ursula will bring high-quality architecture to seaside cafés, respecting both the sea and park landscapes“, describes architect Pauli Siponen.
On March 4, 2024, Tradeka-Yhtiöt Oy acquired two-thirds of the shares in the iconic Café Ursula, located in Helsinki’s Kaivopuisto. Kansan Sivistysrahasto sr continues as a shareholder, holding one-third of the ownership. This arrangement strengthened Ursula’s financial foundation and made it possible to build a new café and restaurant building to replace the current structure. As a new owner, Tradeka is committed to continuing to return part of the business’s profits to society through donations and investments that advance Finnish society.
Additional Information:
Miia Kinnunen, Director of Development, Tradeka-Yhtiöt Oy
Phone: +358 40 847 6171
Email: miia.kinnunen@tradeka.fi
