Setlementtiasunnot’s Alppikylä building in Helsinki and its surrounding residential area are participating in an international competition to find the best residential area in the Nordic countries. The focus is on residents’ comfort, architecture, and the surrounding nature.
– Alppikylä was a natural choice for us as a competition candidate, because the architecturally distinctive area, surrounded by nature, is known for its neighborly spirit and strong sense of community, says Setlementtiasunnot’s CEO Suvi Tuomala.
– In all our buildings, we invest in community spirit, but in our Alppikylä building, it is particularly vibrant, says Suvi Tuomala.
Residents, among other things, organize yard work parties, cultivate shared garden boxes, and help each other with daily tasks.
– They also run a food waste distribution service for the area’s residents. Over 100 food bags are delivered weekly to homes in need, Suvi Tuomala explains.
Winner to be announced in September
It was possible to participate in the NBO Housing Award competition with a one-minute video. There are 19 candidates, seven of whom are from Finland. The diverse and vibrant Alppikylä is the only residential area in Helsinki among these.
The competition is organized by Housing Nordic – NBO, a collaborative organization of owners of affordable rental and right-of-occupancy housing in the Nordic countries. The competition finalists will be announced in late August, and the winner on September 19th at the Nordic Housing conference in Stockholm.
