Arabianranta

Arabianranta ("coast of arabia") is a fast growing 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. Officially it is part of the greater Toukola region.

Arabianranta (earlier known simply as Arabia) derives its name from the famous Arabia ceramics and glassware factory, which is located on Hämeentie street.. The housing area is located on the bayside of Hämeentie.

On the other side of the bay lies a popular natural reserve, Viikki.

History

Arabia is age old industrial area. The ceramics factory is famous for its design products. It was once the biggest ceramics factory in all of Europe. Nowadays the factory is not operational anymore, but it houses facilities for the Helsinki University of Art and Design. The university is another very dominant factor in the district.

Before the construction of the new housing area begun in 2000, Arabianranta was mostly known for the number of homeless people living in the bayside area.

In 2002, the first shopping center, Kauppakeskus Arabia, was opened in southern part of the region. It has two major grocery stores, an Alko shop and various speciality retailers.

Public transport

Frequent buses and tram numbers 6 and 8 take about 10 minutes to Arabianranta from downtown Helsinki.

External links

* [http://www.helsinkivirtualvillage.fi/ Helsinki Virtual Village]
* [http://www.helsinginkartta.fi/arabianranta.html Map of Arabianranta]
* [http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/Kaupunkisuunnitteluvirasto/Artikkeli?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/fi/Kaupunkisuunnitteluvirasto/Ajankohtaiset+suunnitelmat/Projektialueet/Arabianranta Kaupunkisuunnitteluvirasto: Arabianranta]
* [http://www.aralis.fi/ Aralis library]
* [http://www.arabpk.edu.hel.fi/ Arabia elementary school]