Lively discussions at the Tapiola district residents’ event on the future of the area

Some regulars from previous residents’ events also came back for more chats with the planners. Repeated encounters have strengthened trust and made this event an important channel for exchanging ideas on local projects.

Several plan projects were presented for public review during the residents’ event: Projects in the Otaniemi campus area (Sähköosasto and Kandidaattikeskus), Mankkaan opettaja-asuntola, and Pitkänkallionkuja located in Haukilahti. The presented plans did not cause many conflicted feelings, but those present seemed happy with the plans.

‘The people who came to the discussion stands were generally happy with the Otaniemi plans. The discussion was also interesting to the architecture students present who wanted to hear about resident interaction,’ explains the architect Virpi Pulkkanen.

‘The low-ish rise construction on Pitkänkallionkuja was also considered to be a very good solution to replace the commercial premises that had stood empty for a long time,’ says architect Juha Miettinen in summary of the evening’s discussions.

Several other plans for the area were also available for review at the residents’ event. There was extensive discussion revolving around the plans for Keilaniemi and Otsolahti. The drafts for the metro block in Keilaniemi were available for public review fro the first time and brought up a lot of questions and perspectives, particularly about the urban landscape of Keilaniemi. The location of the café and the potential development of the Otsolahti marina area were also under discussion. Many participants were also happy that the plan for Aarnivalkea did not include development plans for Silkkiniitty.

‘The discussion was not just limited to the presented plans. Many people wanted to talk more broadly about urban planning and the development of the Tapiola district,’ notes architect Hanna Kiema.

Residents’ events give local residents the opportunity to learn about the plans in more detail and discuss them at a low threshold. At the same time, these events give city planners valuable data on the residents’ experiences on the development of their local area.

In between discussions, Regional Architect Sampo Sikiö presented topical plans for the Tapiola district. Niittykumpu-Urheilupuisto, Keilaniemi-Otaniemi-Tietäjä, and central Tapiola form three key development areas.

Through the Nature-Wise Gardens competition, which was organised in the summer, Sikiö also guided the audience to talk about the green areas of Tapiola. Examples of successful considerations of biodiversity include the Silkkiniitty and Aarnivalkea areas as well as the renovated courtyards of Itätuulenkuja, where different measures are taken to find a balance between nature, landscape, and active urban life.

‘The competition’s finalists included many different types of gardens from single-family houses to blocks of flats. The Nature-wise Espoo webpage offers ideas for how any local resident can improve the nature-wise approach in their garden,’ says Sikiö.

According to the planners, residents have been happy with the events and talking about local plans with them has been rewarding. Architect Aino Kuusimäki says that the residents were also very interested in future plans and are looking forward to seeing the plans for Heikintori, among other things.

‘All in all, the concept of the residents’ events has worked really well and it is definitely worth continuing to organise them,’ says Sampo Sikiö. The next residents’ evening for the Tapiola district will be organised in spring 2027.

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