katutason

Katutason is a Finnish term used in architecture, urban planning, and real estate to refer to spaces that are at street level, i.e., directly accessible from the sidewalk. The word is formed from katu, meaning street, and taso, meaning level. Its inflected form katutason is used to describe something of or pertaining to street level, for example katutason liiketila (a street-level retail space) or katutason asuintalo (a street-level residential block).

In planning and real estate contexts, katutaso signifies direct pedestrian access and visibility from the street, contrasting with spaces located on higher floors or in basements. The concept emphasizes accessibility, street presence, and interaction with urban life, and is commonly applied to storefronts, public-facing facilities, and other functions intended for easy street access.

Etymology and usage: katutason is a compound noun derived from katu and taso, with the attributive form used before nouns to specify the level. It appears frequently in real estate listings, architectural drawings, and municipal documents to designate ground-level or pedestrian-accessible portions of a building or development.

See also: katu (street); taso (level); katutaso; pohjakerros (basement); ensimmäinen kerros or 1. kerros (first floor) depending on local building conventions.

---