We are often used to thinking about cities and their development in four-year cycles — according to the next term of the Council. But what if Kaunainen looked further? What if we didn't just focus on individual construction projects or current problems, but we create a genuine vision of what Kauniainen could be in 2050?
This is something I was thinking about recently when discussing About the fate of the snake creature resurfaced again. Instead of just discussing a single item, the question could be Larger:
What is The direction of the beautiful?
Garden city or walking city? Or both?
Beautiful has long been called as a garden city, but what does it really mean? Is it just green yards or could we truly build a city where nature is involved every step of the way?
🌱 Beautiful as a truly garden city “Not just as a word line, but through green corridors, urban forests and community gardens. Nature could be more strongly involved in the structure of the city, supporting not only climate change mitigation but also comfort and well-being.
🚶 ♂️ A completely new kind of walking city “What if the centre of Kauniainen was designed primarily for people, not cars? Could we make the downtown area green, cozy and completely pedestrian-focused?
🚋 New public transport model “A tram, a light electric bus or other innovative solution could connect Kauniainen's neighbourhoods and nearby towns so that there would be no need for a car in daily traffic.
Living in different stages of life -- what if we thought smart?
Beautiful could be a city where housing supports different stages of life and where A sense of community combined with modern comfort.
🏡 Communal senior housing — Could there be comfortable, communal homes in Kauniainen for seniors who want to stay in the city, but exchange a large detached house for a new form of living? This could at the same time free up family homes for families with children and increase the housing cycle without too much new being built.
👨 👩 👧 👦 Larger family homes “The strength of Kauniainen has been family friendliness, but does the city provide enough bigger homes for families to live in for a long time?
🌇 Smarter complement building “Instead of building massive apartment buildings, could we design residential areas that combine greenery, proximity to nature and modern urban design?
Entrepreneurship, culture and community — bringing the heart of the city to life
Beautiful could be a city where entrepreneurship, culture and urban events underpin vitality and a sense of community.
🎭 More urban culture “Could we have open-air films, cultural festivals, art weeks or other events that will make the city livelier?
💡 New opportunities for work and entrepreneurship “Kauniainen could be a pioneer in remote and hybrid work — can we create shared spaces, a modern startup community or solutions optimized for hybrid work?
A holistic vision — not just individual decisions
If we want Kauniainen to be the desired, vibrant and modern city in 2050, we cannot make decisions based only on the present. We need to think bigger.
- Design residential areas and infra so that they serve for decades to come
-Support the integration of nature and urban fabric
-Invest in vitality and in the fact that Kauniainen will continue to attract new residents and experts
Finally: Shall we look further?
This is not a ready answer -- this is the question.
Should we look no further than the next council term?
Could we build Beautifully boldly so that in the 2050s it will continue to be one of the most attractive cities in Finland?
The picture is playful and grand, but I prefer to think too big in the first place rather than immediately too small 😉.
What are you thinking? How do we build Kauniainen in the long term — not just today, but for future generations?
