City of Helsinki Neighbourhood Project 2008-2011
 
Vision
 
The areas outside the Helsinki city centre hold numerous attractive districts, diverse residential and commercial areas, and vibrant urban culture. What is more, all essential services are only a short walk away.
 
Mission
 
In cooperation with other operators, the project will bolster and highlight the appealing features and strengths of the various city districts, promote the construction of versatile housing, strive to maintain services in these areas and help to bring about new ones, and provide opportunities for city residents to engage more in the betterment of their residential areas.
 
Neighbourhood Project 2008-2011 Areas of Focus
 
 
Densification and diversification of urban structure
 
Complementary construction is one of the Neighbourhood Project’s areas of focus. It is an excellent means to diversify housing stock, sustain and even improve services, and create new jobs. In the best cases, new appealing and high-quality dwellings can greatly improve the image of an area.
 
New construction, based on existing services and municipal engineering, is also in line with the principles of sustainable, energy-saving and emission-reducing urban construction.
 
Converting the areas freed up by the harbour for residential use will shift the focus of construction and city investments towards the city centre. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that development and new construction projects are also continued in suburban areas.
 
The Neighbourhood Project promotes the progress of essential zoning projects particularly in the vicinity of shopping centres and railway traffic stations.
 
 
 
Improving the current quality of the environment
 
The promotion of environmental improvement measures applies just as much to buildings as it does to the public urban space. In terms of the latter, the focus is mainly on the surrounding areas of public transport stations and shopping centres. These are the common spaces of the suburban environments where residents go about their daily lives. The central parks, squares and pedestrian zones also serve as symbols and indicators of the nature of the areas to more infrequent visitors. Therefore, it is extremely important that new high-quality buildings are constructed in the areas and the existing building stock is maintained in a good condition.
 
Neighbourhood architects working for the Building Inspection Office provide renovation guidance to housing companies and prepare instructions on renovation measures. The renovation guidelines for the Keski-Vuosaari district were completed at the end of 2009, and the instructions for Malminkartano are next in line. They include an extensive inventory and detailed renovation instructions for buildings and yard areas. During the project period, the neighbourhood architects also completed a Resident's Guide for people living in blocks of flats. In addition, the architects took part in the planning of environmental improvement projects.
 
Particular attention is also paid to issues concerning energy conservation and energy renovations. The project is involved in various work groups and prepares analyses and reports in order to distribute accurate information and to promote feasible renovation measures.
 
 


Image facelifts
 
Culture and various events possess a central role in increasing the appeal of suburbs. Events can draw people from other districts, and even the entire region, to experience the area first hand. In 2008 and 2009, the Neighbourhood Project collaborated, for example, with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. The project also gained a new partner, the Finnish National Opera. In addition to its other culture-related operations, the Neighbourhood Project supports events held by residents and organisations. One of the largest of these is the Pihlajamäki goes Blues music festival.
 
The project's prolific image event of 2009, the extensive suburb exhibition along with its side events, will continue on as an online exhibition. A book was published in conjunction with the exhibition: "Sub26 - Happening Suburbs!"
 
Companies play an important part in the formation of the image of a residential area. The construction of buildings and facilities that provide jobs will draw new housing construction to the nearby area and give a dynamic impression of the district that is moving forward and being developed. The MetroHelsinki marketing project of business activities highlights the excellent location and public transport connections of the business areas and centres along the eastern metro line and prepares development measures in collaboration with local companies.
 
A part of the public awareness and image of a city district is formed by how it is portrayed by the media. Active communications, offering positive news to the media and including theme pages of the project in free newsletters are essential during the project period. The local papers of the respective districts are also a valid communication channel.
 
 
 
Improvement of opportunities for regional activity and creation of special service models
 
New regional working methods and service models have been developed as a part of the project for quite some time. Low threshold facilities in the vicinity of shopping and business centre are an excellent example of this.
 
During the project period, particular attention will be paid to youths. The youth culture project, Operation Pulse, in western Helsinki provides cultural services and activities to young people. In connection with these, they have the opportunity to learn new skills or produce art together as an alternative to socialising virtually.
 
Projects for children requiring special support, in turn, are examples of alternative service models. Children and youths who are in danger of becoming socially excluded are provided with meaningful activities in small after-school groups. Support is also provided to their parents.
 
Physical activity is an integral part of the well-being preventive health care of people of all ages, which is why it is one of the central themes of the Neighbourhood Project's activities. New opportunities for physical activity, especially for youths, will be provided during the project period. One of these opportunities is the Fun Action activity project and its exercise pass.
 
 
 
 
Contact information
 
Administration
 
Project Manager
Tero Santaoja
Puh. (09) 310 37155

Project Planner
Pirjo Ruotsalainen
Tel. +358 9 310 37277

Communications Officer
Tiina Nuto
Tel. +358 9 310 25907
 
 
Neighbourhood Architects
 
Architect
Päivi Hellman
Tel. (09) 310 26406
Questions regarding energy renovations:
 
Architect
Pirjo Pekkarinen-Kanerva
Tel. +358 9 310 26421
 
 
E-mail addresses
are in the format:
firstname.lastname@hel.fi