The development of Kaivopuisto

The headland known as Kaivopuisto, situated to the southwest of Helsinki's central harbour, was devoid of houses and in its complete natural state up until the end of the 18th century. The higher northeastern side consisted primarily of exposed glaciated bedrock, whilst the south- west side was essentially flat, with a hill to the south and a lake in the west corner. This natural lake was popular for boating parties.

For many centuries Finland had been a part of Sweden's Eastern Province. When Finland became a Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire in 1809 it had to surrender this undeveloped coastal area, known as Ullanlinna, to the Empire's Institute of Engineering.

The Russians released the Kaivopuisto headland back to the City, however, a couple of decades later following the decline in the military strategic value of the Ullanlinna district.

After much debate the City adopted the radical decision to develop the whole headland into parkland, and lease a section of the land for the construction of a private health spa and baths. A limited company was formed for the health spa, with shares being bought, among others, by the Russian Czar, Nikolai I.
During the early 1830's the park was developed and the health spa opened to the public in 1838. There were two individual timber buildings, both designed by Carl Ludwig Engel, the architect famous for masterminding the design of Helsinki's Senate Square buildings and City Cathedral. The actual bathing rooms numbered 25 and were located in a long low building situated on the coast. A sumptuously decorated apartment was centrally located above, to house the Czar during his occasional visits.

The main building, set back in the park, was named Kaivohuone and still exists today, although it has been radically altered over the years. The original design provided for several large salons, a billiard room, restaurant and society room for ladies plus a newspaper reading room. The restaurant manager also lived on the premises.

The health spa became very popular within the higher circles of Russian society, partly because the Czar had forbidden citizens to travel outside Russian territory and partly because of its proximity to St Petersburg. The baths offered a variety of experiences from chlorinated spring water to scented water and even refreshing seawater. The main building served specially prepared mineral drinking water, which at the time was fashionable as a health cure. This water was produced and specially mixed into a variety of combinations by the then High Commissioner, Victor Hartwall. The family firm Hartwall has been Finland's leading producer of mineral water ever since.

Dancing was arranged twice weekly, Sunday being for the plutocracy, while Wednesday, was reserved for the nobility. The busiest summer recorded at the spa was in 1850 when 27,000 baths were taken.
Sadly this heyday only lasted 20 years. Two outbreaks of cholera, and the Crimean War soon after, put an end to it. The building housing the baths was finally wiped off the landscape during heavy bombing in 1944.