Designing for wellbeing

Some participants, especially the younger ones, enjoyed the task and
stayed at the workshop for quite a long time. Some discussed the area,
and exchanged opinions and ideas about the current situation and how
to improve it.
The data gathered so far was exhibited at the Repicturing a suburban
neighbourhood workshop in the Kanneltalo expo space. Exhibiting the
data was a way to show the residents what had been found during the
process, and to portray how the area is seen by those who had participated.
Exhibiting the findings also aimed to reate discussion among the residents,
raise new questions and make them think about their living environment
in new ways.
During the workshop the idea of holding a block party at Sitratori was
developed. The event reflected the data gathered within the previous steps.
For example, the interviewees talked about the neighbourhood mostly by
referring to other people and the importance of being able to interact when
desired. They also talked about doing things together with their neighbours
and the ideal neighbourhood was described as a place where neighbours
organise community efforts and parties together. The ideas to improve
the area dealt with events, markets and cafes at the square to replace the
current scene of bars and drunken people. (page 110)
During the preparation phase of the block party, students from one
of the schools in Kannelmäki participated in a workshop to brainstorm
ideas for what could happen at the event. They proposed things such as
music, dance, games, bingo and a café. The local actors and associations
realised some of the ideas during the event. For instance, a local band of
teenagers performed, an art therapist ran a whole day painting workshop,
a local association for retired people organised bingo, the library sold old
books and a lady from the café in Kanneltalo had a coffee stand.
The block party was set up together with local people and associations
as an example of how Sitratori could be made into a friendly and inviting
place. It was a way to show that small initiatives can have an impact on
109 · Social wellbeing through participation in Kannelmäki suburb