Centre of Tampere
The centre of Tampere is an area in the city of Tampere, Finland, measuring about three kilometres east to west and about two kilometres north to south. The centre area includes the core centre (reaching from the Tampere Hall to Hämeenpuisto) as well as the districts of Amuri and Tammela. The centre area is bordered by the lake Näsijärvi to the north, the lake Pyhäjärvi and the Tampereen valtatie highway to the south, the street Kalevan puistotie to the east and the intersection of Pirkankatu and Satakunnankatu to the west. The Tammerkoski rapids running through the centre  area split the core centre in half. History. Tampere was founded in 1779 on the lands of the Tammerkoski manor. A simple orthogonal zoning plan was made on the western shore of Tammerkoski, forming the original city centre. The zoning plan had narrow streets and wide lots. The total surface area of the city was about three square kilometres at the time. In the 19th century Kyttälä, an industrial workers' suburb without a specific zoning plan, formed on the eastern shore of Tammerkoski, and houses for the industry workers were also built in Amuri, outside the old city centre. At  the same time the districts of Tammela and Armonkallio, also following an orthogonal zoning plan, were founded, which were settled by former inhabitants from Kyttälä. Today these former industrial workers' residential areas are a part of the centre of Tampere. Suburbs outside the city centre started appearing in the 1960s, resulting in many people moving away from the city centre. The centre became primarily an area for offices and business, with people coming there from all over the Tampere area to spend time. Today the centre of Tampere is an attractive business and leisure area, with new buildings being built  every now and then. Business has largely concentrated in the environment of Hämeenkatu, Tampere's main street. Architecture. The centre of Tampere is an architecturally diverse area. Although many houses have been dismantled, many old buildings still remain. Prominent old buildings included the Tampere Cathedral, the Tampere Orthodox Church, the Tampere Central Fire Station, the Tampere City Hall, the Commerce house, the Palander house, the Tampere Old Church and the Alexander Church. Newer buildings include the Tampere Central Library, Koskikeskus, Hotel Ilves, Tullintori and Hotel Torni Tampere.