Espoo Master Plan 2060 blog post series: A functional city is attractive

How will a city of the future work? What kind of public and commercial services will be needed in the future? How will work and the places where it is performed change? Where are these activities needed: where do we need to allocate space for them, what kind and how much? These are some of the questions we consider as we work on a master plan that reaches far into the future, into the year 2060.

It is said that a city is always changing. The city reflects the values and development of society. The built environment and transport system change over time. Economic ups and downs affect the development of a city. 

A lot can happen before 2060. Our society is undergoing a revolution in terms of digitalisation and technological development. At the present moment, we cannot fully assess the impact this transformation will have on the urban structure and its functioning. Climate change and the drive for sustainable development will also have an increasing impact on how the city is run and how it operates. 

As the city grows, so does the need for different services. Sufficient space and suitable locations must be reserved for the various operations and activities. The location of services, shops and jobs contributes to where people go in their daily lives and by what mode of transport.

Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and robotics will influence public services in the coming decades. The way services are implemented is evolving and some services will be implemented electronically, but services will also be implemented through traditional means. In the future, too, operations such as education, creative expression and the arts, the treatment of illness and personal care will require interaction between people. To make these services easily accessible to residents, they need good, central locations. 

Public spaces and services can foster a sense of community and interaction in a situation where globalisation and digitalisation have changed the way we connect. The response to increased polarisation and people only spending time in their own bubbles can be to strengthen the sense of community between different districts. In particular, multi-purpose cultural and leisure facilities enable a sense of community. Local community building, cultural events and volunteering encourage active participation among residents.  

Physical activity and sports are important public services that maintain the health of local residents. Diverse opportunities for physical activity are an important part of Espoo. Physical activity takes many forms, from everyday exercise and recreation to professional sports. Espoo has the potential to host international competitions in a number of different sports. In the future, new sports will place new demands on both facilities and locations.

Commercial services are important everyday services, especially grocery stores. The location of commercial services influences the mode of transport people take to go shopping. The largest concentrations of commercial services will continue to be located in urban centres, accessible by a variety of transport modes.  

E-commerce will continue to develop, which will affect the space and locations needed for retailers. In the future, shops can partly act as e.commerce pick-up points or places where you can see and test the products. Of particular importance is the grocery e-commerce revolution that is currently underway. Its ultimate impact has not yet been fully identified.

The transformation of e-commerce may contribute to the number of smaller, specialised and experiential stores increasing. Such shops can be located closer to residents. Motor transport hubs may not be as essential to the location of commerce as they are today. Space-consuming e-commerce logistics centres and warehouses can be located on the outskirts of cities, along good logistics routes.

Against the backdrop of digitalisation and robotics, craftsmanship, recycling and localness can become more appreciated. They can create new marketplaces and take over space from stores that are increasingly moving their sales online. 

We can create opportunities for new commercial activities in the future by building a wide range of spaces that can be flexibly adapted.

A large proportion of jobs in Espoo are in the service sector. Espoo is characterised by jobs requiring a high level of competence. 

Megatrends in working life affect workplace development in Espoo. A megatrend is a powerful change affecting societies all over the world. 

In many sectors, digitalisation is transforming workplace practices and space needs. Since COVID-19, hybrid and remote work have become part of working life. However, their prevalence has already shifted to a more moderate direction since the pandemic years, and in-office work will continue to be important in the future. However, according to many estimates, office sizes will decrease as some work is done as hybrid or remote work. 

Business requirements and needs for office locations will change. Companies are seeking more central locations in rail traffic hubs and mixed-use cities. A mixed city refers to an urban environment that has many different elements, such as housing, services, jobs and recreation. When everything you need close by, you do not have to spend long hours running errands or travelling to and from work every day.

These new needs are driving jobs, especially office work, towards Espoo’s urban centres. This is why it is necessary to reserve space for offices and workplaces in urban centres. Together with housing and services, they make up a vibrant and diverse city.

Espoo is also a city of growing companies. High-skilled jobs, product development and innovation in particular require flexible space solutions and versatile opportunities: companies need room to experiment and develop. 

What kind of space will future product development and technology require? The answer is constantly changing as business and technologies evolve. The tech sector in particular often requires more space and larger buildings than many other industries, so we need to ensure that we have more spacious and open areas for workplace activities. This will create better conditions for businesses to develop their operations, bringing vitality to Espoo. 

The number of jobs is expected to grow strongly in line with population growth. In order to secure job growth, both employment areas and space in urban centres must be provided as part of the rest of the urban fabric.

Espoo wants to continue to be a city at the forefront of learning and education and an attractive and pioneering city in the fields of business and innovation. To make this possible, the city needs to be bold in anticipating different future developments. 

A functional and attractive city will continue to need diverse places for different activities, in different parts of the city, as well as flexibility and ability to react to change. Urban centres are particularly important for activities that require good accessibility and a diverse urban environment.

Sufficient space for shops, services and jobs must be ensured, especially in central locations. If space is not now proactively reserved, it will be difficult to add more of it to the built environment later. 

The city is constantly changing. Opportunities must also be reserved for futures that we do not yet recognise.  

Authors: Researcher Laura Malm-Grönroos plans service network solutions for public services and commerce for the Espoo Master Plan 2060. Special Planner Valtteri Lammassaari is responsible for the thematic issues related to jobs and business in the master plan. 

Learn more:

• Master Planning in Espoo
• Espoo Master Plan 2060