Alppikylä’s vibrant residential area and the community-focused building of Setlementtiasunnot situated within it have been selected as the best residential area in the Nordics.
Four video nominees from different countries were selected for the NBO Housing Award competition final. Finland was represented in the competition by a video showcasing the strong community spirit of Helsinki’s Alppikylä.
– We are very pleased with the recognition we have received, as community makes houses more than just a place to live – they become a community where people feel they belong, says Katri Kaukinen, Customer Relations Director at Setlementtiasunnot.
– This victory warms our hearts, especially now, as the government is cutting housing subsidies and planning reductions in non-profit housing. The winning video clearly reflects how significant affordable housing production is for people’s well-being, says Suvi Tuomala, CEO of Setlementtiasunnot.
Katri Kaukinen, Suvi Tuomala, and Eemeli Lönnqvist from Setlementtiasunnot received the NBO Housing Award in Stockholm.
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Community brings security
“Community means being able to ask for help when you need it,” says an Alppikylä resident in the winning video.
Alppikylä was a natural choice for Setlementtiasunnot as a competition candidate, as the architecturally unique area, surrounded by nature, is known for its neighborly spirit and strong sense of community.
– In all our buildings, we invest in community and take it into account from the design phase onwards. However, the community spirit in our Alppikylä building is even stronger than usual, Kaukinen states.
Residents, among other things, organize yard work parties, cultivate shared garden boxes, and help each other with daily matters. They also run a food waste distribution for the area’s residents.
– When there is a good community spirit in a building, it increases living comfort. An open and friendly atmosphere makes the building more homely, and residents enjoy living there more. Good neighborly relations increase residents’ overall satisfaction with housing and prevent potential conflicts between residents. When residents know each other, potential problems can be resolved quickly before they escalate, Kaukinen explains.
Seven candidates from Finland
The competition for the best residential area in the Nordics was organized by Housing Nordic – NBO, a cooperation organization for owners of affordable rental and right-of-occupancy homes in the Nordic countries. NBO’s Finnish umbrella organization is KOVA, the Owners of Affordable Rental and Right-of-Occupancy Homes.
The winner of the competition was announced on September 19th at the Nordic Housing conference in Stockholm.
It was possible to participate in the NBO Housing Award competition with a one-minute video. 19 candidates registered, seven of whom were from Finland. Four candidates, representing different countries, were selected for the final.
The video’s filming and editing were handled by Aino Aulanko, Indigon.
Community in Alppikylä – video (competition version in English)
Community in Alppikylä – video (in Finnish)
