Urban space creator tour︱ Helsinki 2024

Estonian landscape architects exploring urban space in Helsinki.

About 15 years ago, Helsinki set itself the goal of becoming a people-centred city, and many decisions have been made to achieve this: densifying the urban fabric, expanding public transport lines, creating diverse and accessible centres, reducing the number of private cars in the city centre, and designing green areas to be richer in biodiversity. Helsinki inspires, makes you think, and gives hope that change is possible for us too. Of course, they have also faced setbacks – wrong decisions whose consequences are unwelcome and force the search for new solutions. But urban development is always a process of learning by doing. A good example is not one without mistakes, but one that is willing to acknowledge them and learn from them.

Over two days, we covered around 50 km on Helsinki’s cycling infrastructure. To explore landscape architecture, we also visited local courtyards and rooftops. Our route took us from the Katajanokka peninsula to the Jätkäsaari peninsula and from the South Harbour to Pasila railway station (for comparison – in Tallinn, areas of a similar size would be from Kadriorg to Kristiine, or from Järvevana to Kopli).

We met with MAB Nomaji landscape architect Varpu Mikola, from whom we learned the environment-first approach to planning, and visited their newly completed rooftop garden at Katajanokka lauteri – located on top of an entirely wooden building. 

We also met designer and spatial intervener Päivi Raivio from RaivioBumann, who, in revitalising urban space, prioritises changing the status quo and uses social art and design to spark public discussions.

Our observations and conversations were further enriched by a meeting with Helsinki Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki, who is responsible for the urban environment. She oversees 1,400 employees and 130 km² of city-owned land. Together with landscape architect Maria Jaakkola, they introduced us to Helsinki’s developments and priorities, which naturally include tackling climate change, urbanisation, competition for resources, circular economy, reducing extraction, and preserving and developing green areas. The meeting concluded with a visit to the green roof of the city’s Environment House.

It was an inspiring trip that encouraged reflection and discussion! We were happy to conclude together that there is much we can learn from each other.

New urban bicycle tours in 2025. Stay tuned!