H-talo

H-talo is a shopping centre in Kuopio, Finland, and is recognised as the country's first shopping centre, having opened on 1 March 1966. It occupies a prominent corner of Kuopio's market square (tori), surrounded by the market hall, shopping centres and department stores. The building contains roughly 4,400 square metres of retail space spread over three floors, accommodating around 15 shops. It is one of the busiest retail locations in the city, with visitor numbers reported at 2.3 million in 2007 and nearly two million customers annually according to its own website. The centre was originally also known as H-tavaratalo (H department store). The property has historical roots going back to the 19th century, when the site was held by the Hallman merchant family, and the current building was designed by the Kuopio architect Kaj Michael and has been renovated several times. H-talo remains an active retail destination in central Kuopio.

The site of H-talo has been in the hands of the Hallman merchant family since the 19th century. The first building application for the corner of what was then Pohjoinen Vuorikatu and Kauppakatu was submitted by Birger Hallman in 1882. In the early 20th century, in addition to residential premises, the building housed the head office of the Hallman companies and an office of the airline Aero (now Finnair). In the 1950s the block was occupied by the Kuopio shirt factory, but in the following decade its wooden building was demolished to make way for the present merchant department store. H-talo opened on 1 March 1966 as Finland's first shopping centre, located at the south-western corner of Kuopio's market square. The building, containing 4,400 square metres of retail space, was designed by the Kuopio architect Kaj Michael, and it has been renovated several times. The centre has three floors and around 15 shops. It was earlier also known as H-tavaratalo. Visitor numbers reached 2.3 million in 2007, and the official website states that nearly two million customers visit H-talo each year. In January 2016 it was reported that a development project for the corner of Kuopio's market square might also affect H-talo.

• 2016

  Reports of a development project for Kuopio's market square corner that might affect H-talo.

• 2007

  H-talo records 2.3 million visitors.

• 1966

  H-talo opens on 1 March as Finland's first shopping centre.

• 1882

  Birger Hallman submits the first building application for the corner of Pohjoinen Vuorikatu and Kauppakatu.

Finland's first shopping centre, a long-established retail destination at the corner of Kuopio's market square.

• Shopping centre with around 15 shops over three floors

1. 1Etusivu – H-Taloh-talo.fi
2. 2H-talo – Wikipedia (Finnish)fi.wikipedia.org
3. 3H-talo – Wikidatawikidata.org