Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

Population Density in Built-up Areas, 1980-2007 Average Daily Commuting Distance, 1980-2005Inhabitants per km²10009008007006005004003002001000km14121086420|1980|1985|1990|1995|2000|2005|2007|1980|1985|1990|1995|2000|2005SourceMinistry ofthe EnvironmentandStatisticsFinlandPopulation Density & Commuting Trends 1980-2007Finland became urbanised relatively late and the urbanization process isstill continuing…Often there is no distinct boundary between urban andrural areas…In many cases there are few tight restrictions on constructionclose to urban areas. This has led to a dispersed and fragmentedurban structure. Urban areas have typically expanded inexorably outwards,leading to the creation of unstructured, low-density built-upareas. These low-density districts of built-up areas cover some 30-35% ofthe land surface of the country's urban areas—even in the main growthcentres. Arranging services for those low-density urban areas is very difficult.Many of these households need more than one car to manage theirdaily lives… (Finland’s Fifth National Communication under the UnitedNations Framework Convention on Climate Change 53)Finland's urban cores tend to be composed of low-rise construction,with tall buildings a rarity. With few exceptions, Helsinki is has limited itsheight to six or seven stories on average. Though areas outside of Helsinkihave now seen the construction of high-rise apartment buildings, theseprojects have generated controversy.Less than three hundred buildings (0.02% of building stock) are ten ormore floors in Finland; of this number, only two hundred are residential. InFinland 76% of all buildings are single-family detached houses or summercottages. Despite this figure, by 2008, approximately 53% of Finns lived insome form of apartment.D2.7 City PlanningFinland has a highly structured master plan delivery system. Basedon national and municipal objectives, master plans have been drafted formost of Finland's inhabited areas. From these master plans, professionalsworking for the municipal governments will draft plans that specify strictguidelines for building use, massing, occupancy levels—even paint colours.The need for such detailed planning at the municipal level has resulted inthe creation of exceptionally large planning departments in all of Finland'slargest cities. The City of Helsinki for example, has over two hundred architectsand engineers in its planning department.233