Gardens For All

We are turning Espoo into a more friendly and pleasant city. Gardens For All will provide three allotments for residents’ use within the Espoo T3 area (Tapiola-Otaniemi-Keilaniemi).

The new Tapiola allotments will be sited in the middle of the old housing area, next to Jousenkaari school. The exhibition centre WeeGee as well as the Tapiola sports park are located nearby. An underground station serving the area is due to be completed in 2015. The area to be cultivated will consist of 64 allotments measuring 3 m x 3 m. The garden city spirit and the traditions of the Tapiola Silkkiniitty allotments will be taken into account when designing the allotments.

Otaniemi allotments are part of the larger, Aalto Garden Otaniemi project by Aalto University. Aalto University Environmental Art and Landscape Architecture programmes will organise a joint student competition, the aim of which is to find ideas for a campus garden on the Otaniemi campus, in the area between Otakaari and Rakentajanaukio. The campus garden will be created in this area during the spring and summer of 2012.

35 transferable cultivation basins will be designed for the Keilaniemi area to create a spatial work of art with a message. The work will bring green values and sustainable development right into the middle of a leading business centre. Businesses in the area can participate in the work by purchasing a transferable cultivation basin/basins for their employees. These cultivation basins will offer opportunities for relaxation for participants, increase community awareness at workplaces and produce locally grown food for lunches. According to the plan, the cultivation basins will be transferred to their next location at Suurpelto, Espoo after WDC Helsinki 2012.

Espoo housing centres contain several plots of land waiting for planning decisions, action or construction. Since it is not possible to create permanent solutions quickly in these areas, transferable cultivation basins are a great solution whereby the space can be used for the common good. The intention is to transfer the cultivation basins after 2012 from Keilaniemi to Suurpelto for 2013 and thereafter annually according to the following schedule; 2014 Matinkylä, 2014 Suvela and 2015 Leppävaara.

In addition to the new cultivation allotments, the Espoo Adult Education Centre will organise urban cultivation theme days. The spring theme day will focus on urban cultivation and planning. The autumn theme day will focus on various cultivation projects as well as the possibilities of cultivation in urban areas.

The project will be organised by the Espoo Adult Education Centre. In addition to the Adult Education Centre, the main participants include Espoo City Technical Department streets and green area services and Aalto University.

More information

Saana Karlsson
Planning Teacher
Espoo Adult Education Centre
Tel. +358 50 428 9361
saana.karlsson@espoo.fi