This project was a finalist in the European Responsible Housing Awards 2025 under the ‘Building strategic alliances, fostering community participation’, organised by Housing Europe, the International Union of Tenants and DELPHIS.
Organisation: Setlementtiasunnot
Goals
Setlementtiasunnot’s mission is to provide affordable rental homes and build community-oriented neighbourhoods. The Alppikylä project advances this goal by offering well-designed, cost-efficient housing with a strong emphasis on communal living.
Key objectives include:
- Ensuring affordability through compact apartment layouts and shared facilities.
- Fostering community spirit through resident-led activities and spaces that encourage interaction.
- Supporting inclusive living by integrating special groups, such as people with developmental disabilities.
- Enhancing residents’ well-being and reducing loneliness through a collaborative housing model.
Context
Setlementtiasunnot operates 21 rental buildings in seven Finnish cities, housing around 2,200 people. The Alppikylä property in Helsinki offers 46 apartments, including 12 supported units for individuals with developmental disabilities. These homes follow national housing support guidelines, prioritizing low-income residents with urgent housing needs.
This integrated housing model addresses several national trends: a high rate of loneliness (affecting 30% of Finns), an aging population, and the need for accessible, inclusive housing. Alppikylä brings together diverse resident groups in a shared block environment, offering accessible living spaces and promoting daily interaction across social lines. The model supports broader Finnish housing policies that emphasize integration and anti-segregation.
What is innovative about this project?
The Alppikylä project stands out for its integration of architectural features, digital tools, and inclusive service models:
- Community-First Design: Apartments are compact and efficient, complemented by shared kitchens, living rooms, a gym, a sauna, and a multi-functional courtyard with vegetable boxes, berry bushes, and play areas.
- Inclusive Housing Model: Residents with developmental disabilities live independently with support from Rinnekoti, a social services partner, and share communal spaces with all other residents, fostering mutual understanding.
- Digital Engagement: The “Kerro” app enables residents to coordinate neighbourly help, stay informed about building events, and connect socially. Information is also displayed on stairwell screens for accessibility.
- Resident Democracy: A resident committee plans community activities such as shared lunches, courtyard clean-ups, and holiday events. Resident feedback shapes both daily life and long-term programming.
This approach strengthens tolerance, reduces isolation, and builds lasting community bonds.
Interventions
- Resident Committee: Determines annual communal activities and represents residents in decision-making.
- Kerro App & Screens: Digital platform for announcements, event updates, and neighbour support.
- Shared Facilities: Communal kitchen, sauna, gym, and living rooms.
- Courtyard Amenities: Gardening areas, berry bushes, waste-sorting station, play areas, and social seating.
- Resident Surveys & Communication Tools: Newsletters, satisfaction surveys, and digital communication plans.
- Support Services: Rinnekoti manages support for 12 residents with developmental disabilities and coordinates with the adjacent group home.
- Collaborative Governance: Regular meetings between Setlementtiasunnot staff and residents ensure aligned objectives.
Impact
- Low Turnover: Resident turnover at Alppikylä was just 10.3% in 2024, nearly half the average across Setlementtiasunnot’s buildings (19.4%), helping stabilize the community and reduce costs.
- High Satisfaction: Survey results show an average score of 4 out of 5 across categories, surpassing national averages for affordable rental housing.
- Reduced Loneliness: Residents frequently cite neighbour support as a key benefit. Community ties have led to informal caregiving, shared childcare, and active social life.
- Outreach Beyond the Building: Residents run a weekly food redistribution program, donating over 100 food bags to the broader neighbourhood.
- Inclusive Participation: Resident-led programming reflects diverse needs, with activities tailored to varying energy levels and capacities.
The Alppikylä project showcases how intentional design, inclusive housing, and community support mechanisms can create secure, sustainable, and socially cohesive neighbourhoods.
Lessons learned
- The project fosters social inclusion through thoughtful design and integrated living for diverse resident groups.
- It shows how affordable housing can support community life, reduce loneliness, and encourage mutual support.
- It’s a strong, well-executed example of inclusive and community-driven housing.
