Last updated: October 2021
The project aims to turn Honkasuo forest and meadow area into an urban village to house 2000 residents. These delightful nature elements have been preserved, for the most part, and the wave of sustainable development that is sweeping over the area has a definite environmental/ecological symbol as well (ref. 4). The constructions are aimed to be made out of wood and are meant to attract a diversity of people. Part of this project is the creation of a park, urban farming plots, natural design to attract butterflies, a playground and natural ponds to retain rainwater (ref. 2,3,4). Part of the development has been completed with residents start moving in 2016, although the landscaped embankment is expected to be completed in 2022
Town plans are being made in Honkasuo
Source: Ref. 10
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Green areas for water management
- Rain gardens
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature
Project objectives
1. Create an urban ecovillage that is based on low-energy construction.
2. To use natural building materials and create an infrastructure that is adapted to a changing climate (ref. 1, 2).
3. Improve the quantity and diversity of housing in Helsinki (ref. 4)
4. To create a residential area where access to green spaces for leisure are easily accessible (parks, green playgrounds, rocky areas) (ref. 1).
5. Creation of a park based on the current natural meadow features of the area (Ref 4);
6. Provide local farming areas (Ref 2, 4);
7. Connect the green spaces within this area with ecological corridors (Ref 4)
8. Improve water management with surface waters (e.g. ponds) for natural drainage (Ref 3,4);
Implementation activities
1. Creation of a park based on the current natural meadow features of the area (Ref 4);
2. Provide local farming areas (Ref 2, 4);
3. Create small-scale squares of pallets that can be cultivated in (Ref 4);
4. Connect the green spaces within this area with ecological corridors (Ref 4)
5. Create surface waters (e.g. ponds) as natural drainage (Ref 3,4);
6. Create mossy areas to retain rainwater (Ref 4);
7. Design green spaces to attract butterflies (Ref 3);
8. Create a playground (Ref 3).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The City of Helsinki Planning Department is responsible for the project (Ref 3) and consulted with the Building Agency, the Building Supervision Authority, the Planning Center, the Sports Department, the Social Office, the Education Department,
the Health Center, the Environment Center, the Housing Production Office,the Helsinki Fire Department, Helsingin Energia, Helsinki Water and Helsinki's transport company. In collaboration with the Helsinki University of Technology a set of eco criteria has been developed (Ref 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1: City of Helsinki. 2020. Born Sustainable. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
2: City of Helsinki. 2019. Climate Wisdom. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
3: City of Helsinki. n.d. Kuninkaantammi and Honkasuo. (link not available in 2020)
4: City of Helsinki. 2020. Honkasuo: Overview. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
5: City of Helsinki. n.d. Honkasuo on puutalojen kaupunkikylä. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
6: City of Helsinki Planning Department. 2013. Helsinki City Plan Vision 2050. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
7: Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
8: Helsingin kaupungin rakennusviraston julkaisut. 2007. Helsingin kaupungin luonnonhoidon linjaus. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
9. City of Helsinki (2019) Town plans are being made in Honkasuo. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 19 November 2020)
10. City of Helsinki (2019) Town plans are being made in Honkasuo. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 19 November 2020)
11. City of Helsinki (2020) Honkasuo. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 19 November 2020)
2: City of Helsinki. 2019. Climate Wisdom. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
3: City of Helsinki. n.d. Kuninkaantammi and Honkasuo. (link not available in 2020)
4: City of Helsinki. 2020. Honkasuo: Overview. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
5: City of Helsinki. n.d. Honkasuo on puutalojen kaupunkikylä. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
6: City of Helsinki Planning Department. 2013. Helsinki City Plan Vision 2050. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
7: Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
8: Helsingin kaupungin rakennusviraston julkaisut. 2007. Helsingin kaupungin luonnonhoidon linjaus. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 24 July 2020)
9. City of Helsinki (2019) Town plans are being made in Honkasuo. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 19 November 2020)
10. City of Helsinki (2019) Town plans are being made in Honkasuo. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 19 November 2020)
11. City of Helsinki (2020) Honkasuo. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 19 November 2020)
Honkasuo vuonna 2018
Source: Ref. 9
Honkasuo vuonna 2018
Source: Ref. 9
Honkasuo vuonna 2018
Source: Ref. 9
Honkasuo vuonna 2018
Source: Ref. 9