Helsinki

Helsinki is one of the newest success stories among European metropolitan areas. It is also officially one of the world's best places to live – at least according to esteemed British lifestyle magazine Monocle, in whose June 2011 issue Helsinki was designated as the most liveable city in the world.

We agree with Monocle. Helsinki combines a nearly untouched seascape with efficient infrastructure, excellent transport connections and multicultural interaction. For decades, design has been a crucial part of the local style of life. Design manifests itself in the everyday lives of Helsinki citizens in many ways, ranging from home furniture and items that represent old Finnish design traditions to modern urban solutions and contemporary interior design. The creative sector plays a huge role in the economic growth of the Helsinki area.

Design seen from a broad perspective – in city planning, architecture, industrial design and service design – plays an integral role in the development of urban services and consumer products. Design is often integrated into digital solutions that make everyday life in the city easier. An example is the Helsinki City Library, which receives more virtual than physical visits, or the Hel.fi portal with its nearly 17 million visitors per year. Some services are designed specifically for mobile users: for example public transport tickets can be purchased conveniently by mobile phone.

Successful urban planning forms the foundation for a good city culture. Helsinki has aimed to create harmonious urban spaces with a unique flavour, according to the principle of placing residential areas, services and shops together. The diversity of the population is ensured by combining various forms of living side by side.

Helsinki is the centre of Finnish science and art. Its architecture is a fascinating amalgamation of old and new. For example, the Savoy Restaurant, designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto, has played a central role in the history of Finnish design, whereas Klaus K belongs to a chain of international design hotels. Hotel Torni, meanwhile, is a unique blend of Art Deco and early Functionalism.

Helsinki has sometimes been described as “the smallest big city in the world”. This is true. Even though one fifth of the whole country’s population – more than one million inhabitants – live in Helsinki, this is nothing compared to the likes of New York or Tokyo. We like it this way, because in Helsinki everything is near by. You can reach the centre on foot. Biking is popular. Trams, the underground, and buses are reliable. Helsinki is also one of the world’s cleanest and safest capitals, and its cultural diversity is hard to match.

The official opening of the World Design Capital year will be on Helsinki’s Senate Square on New Year’s Eve 2011. That will kick everything off. See you there!