Photo : City of Vantaa / Sakari Manninen ture . Home of the original Garden City , Tapiola , Espoo has a great track record of promoting low carbon living . The latest initiative in this regard is Kera , which aims to be a climate-friendly , bustling neighbourhood that will attract also new business activity , thanks to its high-level connectivity .
There is already a rail connection , with Kera station sitting in the very centre of the 230-hectare area which was previously in industrial use . Under the new plans , Kera will be transformed into a diverse new neighbourhood for living and working , providing housing for at least 14,000 residents along with some 10,000 jobs .
Showcasing the Future
Pekka Vikkula , Project Director at the City of Espoo ’ s Technical and Environment Services , believes that Kera offers absolutely first rate potential .
“ It will be possible to create a brand new ” Kera Valley ” residential area complete with local services . Thanks to the excellent public transport links , we will be able to pursue high-density urban development , particularly in the immediate vicinity of the station , where we will really focus on catering for pedestrians and cyclists ,” Vikkula lays out the battle plan .
Ville Ahvikko , Urban Planner for the City of Espoo , calls Kera a “ truly unique opportunity ” for development within the Greater Helsinki area .
“ We have the chance to design truly inspiring and sustainable residential solutions fit for a new era . At Kera , we can create a co-ordinated and holistic new neighbourhood ,” Ahvikko says .
Vantaa Takes Off
Vantaa is no different in its determination to build new , sustainable communities – that , by the way , are also located by the rails . The recently launched Ring Rail Line – which connects downtown Helsinki to Vantaa airport – has kicked off several developments around the railway stations .
While introducing five new stations – Vehkala , Kivistö , Aviapolis , Airport and Leinelä – the Ring Rail offers Vantaa plenty of opportunities to solidify the urban structure . Ring Rail is giving 200,000 potential residents and 200,000 potential commuters convenient access top-notch public transport .
With Vantaa ’ s population growing at record speed , the City has need for new districts for new residents . The City of Vantaa also has plenty of international flavour , thanks to Aviapolis , the Airport City , located in in the immediate vicinity of the airport along the Ring Rail Line and Ring Road III . As it stands , Aviapolis is the strongest growing business area and employment centre in the metropolitan area , hosting 1,000 companies which employ as many as 35,000 people .
Eye on Tomorrow
The City of Vantaa wants to capitalise on the international angle , drawing up an ambitious master plan for the future development of Aviapolis . According to Hannu Penttilä ,
Deputy Mayor , this “ Airport City of tomorrow ” will be a human-scale community where walkability is a big element .
“ Our dream is that the Airport City will be ecologically and culturally sustainable – and a true travel destination in its own right .” According to the plans , by 2025 the entire Aviapolis area will house up to 23,000 people .
“ What we want to do here is to build the best airport city in the world ,” says Penttilä , who believes that Vantaa can deliver the “ total package ” that can eclipse international rivals such as Schipol and Zürich .
“ All the required services are available , the distances are short and logistics are world-class . What ’ s more , we can offer the most convenient access to Asia in all of Europe .”
Driving Diversity
There ’ s life outside the airport , too : Vehkala , for instance , which is situated along the Ring Rail Line and Ring Road III , is planned to become a hub of as many as 10,000 jobs . The City – which owns 100 hectares in the area – is grooming Vehkala especially for the needs of the SME sector . The area is most suited for planning , service and production businesses – and it has already made a name for itself as a fashion centre .
“ Vehkala is a good example of our drive to build something great . We expect to see 20,000 housing units and jobs in Vantaa during the next ten years ,” says Penttilä . l
Sami J . Anteroinen Nordicum
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