The Finnish Line
Quiet achiever Helsinki recently garnered the number one spot in Monocle magazine’s annual Quality of Life survey, which ranks the top 25 cities in the world for ‘liveliness and liveability’.
Finland’s chilly capital beat European rivals Zürich second, and Copenhagen third, to claim the mantle as the world’s most liveable city.
The magazine said, “The Finnish capital stands out for its fundamental courage to rethink its urban ambitions, and for possessing the talent, ideas and guts to pull it off.” Also ranked sixth on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s global liveability survey, Helsinki managed to score a respectable 96.2 per cent.
So how did it impress such discerning judges? There’s little doubt that Finland is doing rather well for itself financially – with healthy per capita GDP and low public debt – shrugging off the woes of some other European countries. Helsinki is free from ‘slum housing’, thanks to planning and humanitarian projects. Its quality educational facilities also do a fine job of attracting Europe’s bright young things.
Smallness is seen as an asset, enabling people to meet and collaborate easily. Monocle was impressed by the audacity of moving 2.5km of cargo port, thus freeing up land to create new mixed-use districts connected by sustainable infrastructure and transport. Changes in the way people use the city are continuing to shape the built environment.
This sense of connectedness extends to the natural environment too, with the city’s development of the Eco-Viikki housing project. Careful planning ensures it meets strict environmental objectives, with ecological criteria for architecture, construction, energy-efficiency and materials, as well as fostering community through its infrastructure.
Helsinki has traditionally had a large shipbuilding industry, though its economy is also becoming more service-based, with finance and telecommunications (Nokia is just outside the city) driving its economic power and growth.
Growth so great that some estimates predict the Helsinki metropolitan area will be home to 1,561,000 residents by 2030. This will require the construction of around 5000 homes annually, as well as augmenting the already excellent public transport network.
Next year it will be the world’s design capital, further cementing its status as a place to watch. Home to globally recognised brands like Nokia and Kone, there’s definitely a design pedigree here: from Marimekko’s cheerily iconic textile patterns to Eliel (father of Eero) Saarinen’s Helsinki Central railway station, presided over by its granite, lampbearing giants.
Is it possible to replicate Helsinki’s strengths and successes in a city like Auckland? The Building Intelligence Group’s Brent Thomson thinks so. “We have a stunning harbour setting – and we’re learning to make the most of it. A reinvigorated waterfront, coupled with an emphasis on culture, is making the heart of our city beat faster. We still have some challenges to address around transport, but our Council, with increasing public demand and the investment that was made ahead of the RWC, is tackling the issue head on.”
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