Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2016 | Page 37

Photo: ALA Architects Ltd.
+ Esa Piironen Oy

as an ideological experiment with a strong
focus on nature.

Tapiola 2.0
Currently, the venerable neighbourhood is
going through a beauty treatment. In keeping with the original spirit of the district, a
new centre will be built in Tapiola – a bold
solution marked by its dynamic and sustainable character. Great care will be taken in
the renewal to preserve the architecturally
significant centre, designed by the architect
Aarne Ervi.
The aim here is to create an active,
multifaceted urban centre with modern
mass transportation terminals, well-organised parking and maintenance arrangements,
a wide variety of services as well as pleasant pedestrian areas and meeting places. In
addition, Tapiola offers culture and leisure
activities such as WeeGee House and Cultural Centre as well as sports – and the coming of metro will make it all so much more
accessible.

Upgrading Otaniemi
A little east from Tapiola, we find Otaniemi,
the “Silicon Valley of the North”. Otaniemi
is the largest cluster of high technology in
Northern Europe, representing the entire
chain of innovation from educa