The Tapiola region residents’ evening discussed the urban environment – The recurring event was held this time in Niittykumpu
On 16 April 2025, about a 50 people attended the residents’ evening on the topic of urban environment in the Tapiola region. The discussion-oriented fair-type event was organised at the new Niittykumpu school. Residents were particularly interested in the area’s current plans, local nature and parking issues.
A majority of the three-hour event was free touring of event points where planners and employees from Espoo Public Works, Premises Services and Environmental Protection were available for discussion. A nomenclature quiz, a drawing point for children and a buffet café maintained by schoolchildren gave a refreshing aspect to the event. However, the focus was on the current plans and development prospects of the area.
Two workshops were dedicated to the development of the entire major district. In them, residents’ ideas were collected as a basis for the Tapiola vision that is being worked on. The vision brings together the guidelines of the future of the Tapiola region and helps the area’s planners in their work:
"Suur-Tapiola is a large and diverse area that is developing rapidly. Therefore, we need a more detailed common vision of the direction in which the region and its different districts are being developed,” says Regional Architect Sampo Sikiö.
A dozen of topical plans on display at discussion points
The atmosphere at the event was calm and the discussion points had room for everyone. The points that attracted the most interest were those presenting Haukilahdensatama and the amendment to the detailed plan for the Jousenkaari school. There was also lively discussion at the Streets, Parks and City Spaces point, especially on the topic of green spaces and parking.
The following detailed plans were presented at the event: Jousenkaari School, Kivikaira, Biologi, Suosaari, Haukilahdensatama, Luomanportti, Otsolahti, Heikintori, Maarinporras, Tietäjäntienpää and the rest of the Tietäjä area. Jousenkaari School, Maarinporras and Tietäjäntienpää are currently available for public review.
The draft Espoo Master Plan 2060 and the progress of the master plan work were also discussed at the event. A workshop series called Ideasprintti is currently underway. In the series, residents brainstorm the best possible future for the urban centres of Espoo. The draft Espoo Master Plan 2060 was available for public review in summer 2024. The plan proposal is expected to be discussed decision-makers and made available for public review in 2026.
In addition to the planners, Project Managers Jarmo Kulmala and Petri Vainio are responsible for the development of the area. At the event, it was also possible to talk to employees responsible for Espoo’s streets, parks, city premises, land use permits and environmental protection.
Robust information session provided insights into the development of the area
During the event, a brief informative presentation on the development of the Tapiola region was held. Regional architect Sampo Sikiö said that about 60 detailed plans are currently pending in the area. He highlighted sustainability as an important theme in the planning of the area and mentioned the Niittykumpu Fire Station as a good example of a project where a new interesting purpose has been found for a valuable protected building. Among the current plans for this spring, Sikiö mentioned Biologi, which will bring residential blocks of flats and research and business premises to Otaniemi as well as the Tietäjä area in northern Tapiola for which new homes, a daycare centre and a park are being planned.
In his speech, Juha Iivanainen from the Premises Department presented the specified plans and estimated schedule for the theatre of the Cultural Centre. According to current plans, the transfer of current municipal engineering at Kulttuuriaukio would begin this summer. The construction of the new theatre would start in spring 2026 and the building would be available for use at the end of 2028 at the earliest.
Anna Hakala from the city’s Environmental Protection talked about the importance of yard trees for the urban environment and advised how housing companies and residents of detached houses can best take care of their trees. The city’s Environmental Protection is doing versatile work for a nature-wise Espoo.
Next residents’ evening for Tapiola residents will be held in autumn
The planning team for Suur-Tapiola has organised regional residents’ evenings every six months with a varying line-up of experts. Recurring events mean that more and more residents become familiar with the experts over time:
“It is important for us that we tour different parts of our major district to meet people. This time, we managed to reach the residents of Niittykumpu and other western parts of our major district. The next similar event will be held again in the autumn, but we have not yet decided on the venue,” says Pieta Kupiainen from the event’s planning team.
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