Smart City Kalasatama
Finland has already been named the happiest country in the world four times. It is ahead of most countries in education, technology and social security. Finnish smart cities fit this picture too: modern urban districts built entirely around efficiency, sustainability and social inclusion.
What does smart city actually mean?
In Finland, the smart city era has already begun, and it looks nothing like the sleek futuristic cities you know from science fiction films.
The Scandinavian countries are considered Europe's pioneers of intelligent, sustainable cities. The term "smart city" brings utopias to mind: elegant skyscrapers, polite robots, hologram advertising and self-driving hover cars. At first glance, at least, real modern cities are a long way from that picture.
In Finland, smart city development puts residents and their needs first. Sure, some projects are packed with technology and artificial intelligence. But the central question is how everyday life can be improved through innovative services and technologies.
Typical projects make it easier to get around the city or optimize traffic and energy consumption.
Kalasatama, from fishing harbor to smart city
In Helsinki's Kalasatama district, the Nordic city of the future is already a reality. Kalasatama, by the way, roughly translates as "fish harbor". Its attractive spot right on a Baltic Sea bay no longer serves as a port, though; today it is a residential and office area.
Since autumn 2013 the district has been a model area for intelligent urban development, with residents, businesses and the city all involved in the planning. The projects are meant to help develop the city and feed the findings into urban planning nationally and internationally.
The main goal is to find solutions that simplify everyday life and support climate targets. It is a process of experimenting and developing: the district's residents test what makes daily life run smoothly and what may need adjusting.
A planned neighborhood help scheme, for example, attracted a number of sign-ups. But since Finns tend not to like asking for help, the service was hardly used in practice.
From self-driving buses to automated waste collection
The projects in Kalasatama reach into every area of life. Residents control the technology in their apartments through an app. The home sauna, for example, can be switched on during the commute so it is ready to use the moment you walk in the door.
When leaving the house, on the other hand, a single press of a button cuts the power in the apartment to save energy. Another very popular feature is the automatic underground vacuum system that carries waste to a collection point.
The cityscape itself benefits from the smart city development too. Great importance is placed on green infrastructure: natural areas that protect biodiversity while providing other services at the same time. A pilot project for intelligent, eco-conscious tram stops demonstrates this concept for urban nature, combining green infrastructure with urban mobility.
Other methods include rainwater management and small green pocket parks made up of seating areas and planters. The first autonomous buses are already running as well. And all of Helsinki is meant to become car-free by 2025.
The goal: gaining an hour a day
Smart City Kalasatama focuses on intelligent housing, intelligent infrastructure, green infrastructure and everyday wellbeing. The motto is to give the current 3,000 residents "one more hour a day". By 2035, additional housing for a total of 25,000 residents and jobs for 10,000 people are to be created.
In 2018 the model district won first prize as the best smart neighborhood in the "building automation" category of the international KNX Award, and came fifth in the "smart city administration" category.
But Finland is only getting started. Smart cities are also taking shape in Tampere, Vantaa and Espoo, and the new Jätäsaari district in Helsinki is a construction project dedicated entirely to smart city development.
Conclusion
Finland is successfully demonstrating what still lies far in the future for most countries. Finnish smart cities are about sustainability and quality of life as much as technological progress.
Residents get a say in redesigning their own neighborhood, so whether a change is even needed gets tested under real conditions. There is probably a reason the people of Finland are known for being so happy!
Frequently asked questions from travelers
Why do we need smart cities?
Urban concepts like the smart city model can make city life more modern, more efficient and easier on the climate. At the same time, residents' quality of life can improve.
Are smart cities actually sustainable?
Smart cities have the potential to promote urban sustainability. Environmentally friendly practices implemented in a smart city can provide other services at the same time. One example is using rainwater to flush toilets.
What are examples of urban green infrastructure?
Examples include rain barrels, greened alleys, unsealed courtyard surfaces and green spaces with shade trees.
Our Finland reports
Sergej Gerber
I am an absolute Scandinavia fan and have been traveling to the beautiful Scandinavian countries for over 12 years. Here I share my experiences and tips about the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic Sea region.