Stefan Piesnack, who has worked at Setlementtiasunna since the completion of our first building, retired in the spring. Stefan Piesnack, Stefu, has held many positions at the company, including as the building's owner and property manager. His proactive, positive personality is familiar to many residents over the years.
– In recent years, I have shown apartments to new residents and handled archiving, he says.
– You could say that the content of this work has kept me busy and made me enjoy this work. There has to be some idea in the work.
The first house to be owned by Malmi
In 2003, the first house built for Setlementtiasunnot in Malmi . The company's name at this point was S-asunnot.
– The Settlement Association was looking for a house manager for S-asunnoi. I went for an interview. I was interested in the job because I had been the chairman of the residents' committee in the building where I lived, Piesnack recalls.
“My job as a host initially involved 300 interviews, as all the potential tenants of the building were interviewed personally. Back then, I knew every resident,” he smiles.
The job description of the master of the house was very broad at this point.
– In addition to resident interviews, I conducted resident selections, started resident activities at the building, looked after property maintenance, conducted property tours, monitored rents and made payment plans, he lists.
The employment contract also included that Piesnack lived in the same house where he worked.
– It was like when you went to take out your own trash, the resident said, "Hey Stefan, this is something like that." It was a way of life, he nods.
Soon, another house was completed in Haaga and Piesnack moved to work there. However, he stayed in the Malmi house, where he enjoyed his time for 12 years.
– It is my child's childhood home, he says.
Ahead of its time: shared grow boxes
In 2007-2009, Setlementtiasunnot built houses in Muurala, Espoo , Viikki, Helsinki , and Hervanta, Tampere . Piesnack had completed a professional qualification in property management while working and moved to Muurala as a property manager. In addition, he worked as the company's property manager.
– It was a really hectic time, he recalls.
Over the years, new ways of collaborating were developed for residents in the buildings.
– Growing boxes were an innovation in their time. I built our first growing boxes in Havukoski. And they are still there. After that, boxes were also added to other houses. For example, the Jousenpuisto house is really magical with a roof garden.
Community at the heart of the operation
Over the years, many places for community have been developed, both among the residents of Settlement Apartments and with neighbors in residential areas.
in Saunalahti, Espoo , in 2011. Piesnack came up with the idea of introducing the house to other residents of the area by inviting them to festivals. The Setlemettirock event was born, which has since been organized in many other places, such as Alppikylä and Havukoski .
– We set up a stage in the parking lot of the building. We invited local Espoo rappers and my old friends Pelle Miljoona and Tumppi Varonen to perform, he says.
The participants were also shown the premises of the house.
– Suddenly a group of people came there to see that you have such a great community space . And the next day a person from the Mannerheim Child Welfare Association asked if they could gather here. They had a music club and a mother-child group.
– So our house radiated community and offered its facilities to other parties. There was a really good atmosphere.
Retirement leaves time for music and residents' association activities
What plans does Piesnack have for retirement?
– When I turned 30, I thought, I don't have a script for this. Yes, I don't have a script for this either, when I'm 68 and I'm retiring, he laughs.
Before the Settlement Apartments, when he was under 30, he worked full-time as a musician, guitarist and composer. He played in bands such as Pelle Miljoona and Problems? and was in the process of founding Hanoi Rocks.
– I need to think about what I'm doing for a while. I'm involved in the residents' association. And I have music stuff, a band, writing and composing and stuff like that, he says.
