läpikulun

Läpikulun is a term in urban design describing a through passage that connects two or more streets or public spaces by means of a physical corridor or arcade through a building block. It serves as a pedestrian route that allows continuous movement across urban fabric while integrating retail or service functions along the route.

Etymology: The name derives from Finnish words läpi meaning through and kulku meaning passage or movement; the form läpikulun is a nominalized or genitive variant used in planning discourse.

Forms: Läpikulun can be an internal passage inside a shopping arcade, a weather-protected walkway that links street facades, or a linear courtyard with storefronts. It emphasizes permeability, shelter, and activation of street life.

History: The concept emerged in European and Nordic planning traditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as cities sought to improve pedestrian flow and climate resilience. It has proliferated in modern developments that prioritize mixed-use, climate-controlled routes.

Applications: In dense urban areas, läpikulun supports convenient access to retail, transit nodes, and civic spaces, while reducing the need to traverse street-level crossings. It can be designed as single- or multi-block networks and may include signage and daylighting strategies.

See also: pedestrian arcade; through-block; covered passage; urban linkage.