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Generation Block, Helsinki
Main objectives of the project
The Generations Block comprises rental homes provided by Setlementtiasunnot and the Foundation of Student Housing in the Helsinki Region (Hoas), along with owner-occupied housing. This block includes a total of 262 apartments, 20 of which are specially designed for disabled residents. It fosters an active and community-oriented lifestyle, bringing together people of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds. The block features various communal spaces, such as a residents' living room, a stage for movies and performances, a laundry room with a sewing area, a woodworking room, and a soundproof music room.
Date
- 2017: Construction
Stakeholders
- Promotor: Hoas
- Promotor: Setlementtiasunnot
Location
City: Helsinki
Country/Region: Finland, Helsinki
Description
The Generations Block in Helsinki builds on the concept of student housing with common rooms and shared spaces, expanding it to create a multigenerational community within the housing development. Initiated in 2010, the project has attracted numerous collaborators and partners, including Aalto University, the Ministry of Environment, and the City of Helsinki. The Block comprises 262 homes spread across three buildings, with an entire floor dedicated to shared spaces.
Residents benefit from a variety of communal amenities, such as a garden, kitchen, sewing room, woodworking room, TV room, soundproof music room, sauna, gym, and a theatre stage. A wide, open, wheelchair-accessible corridor connects all these shared spaces, facilitating movement and fostering a sense of community and interaction.
For example, Jätkäsaaren Setlementtiasunnot is one of the largest buildings in the project. It offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 32 to 77 square meters. The eight-floor building is equipped with a lift. The living rooms, hallways, and kitchens have laminate flooring, while the washrooms are tiled with ceramic tiles. Kitchen fixtures include MDF cabinet doors and laminate countertops, along with an ice-freezer, a four-burner hob, a dishwasher, and a microwave. All apartments are designed to be wheelchair accessible and feature either a balcony or a French balcony, with some offering private courtyards. For fire safety, all apartments and balconies have sprinklers. The property includes 29 parking spaces located under Hyväntoivonpuisto in the Rokkiparkki parking cave. Each apartment has a mechanical ventilation system and is connected to district heating.
While common rooms and shared living have traditionally been part of student housing and residential or care homes, the Generations Block extends this concept to include everyone in between. It offers residents the chance to form neighborly friendships and foster a sense of community and belonging in a large city, while also providing access to spaces and resources for hobbies and interests. As co-living becomes more popular among young people, it will be intriguing to observe the demographic composition of the Generations Block and how intergenerational living functions in practice.