Käpylä neighbourhood

Käpylä neighbourhood is an urban paradise of lush gardens, secret alleyways, exceptional community spirit and internationally acclaimed architecture. 

The area of Puu-Käpylä (“Wooden Käpylä”) was built for the working classes of rapidly growing Helsinki in the 1920’s based on the Garden City ideal, aiming to foster  the community and environmental wellbeing of people living in the city.

Hundred and plus years forward, Käpylä is now a vibrant neighbourhood with multiple community events and networks, a lively scene of music and culture, and home to irrefutable people power and resilience. Hop on the iconic tram number one and feel the vibe yourself!

Wooden-Käpylä: Garden City loved and saved by the people

Situated about five kilometers north from the city center, Käpylä is home to about 8000 helsinkians. At the heart of it is Puu-Käpylä (Wooden Käpylä), designed in the 1920’s  by the architects Martti Välikangas and Akseli Toivonen. The plan for the area – the spacious shared courtyards, gardens and the timber houses facing each other – was inspired by the new ideals of social housing and the Garden City Movement. The colourful houses with their details of classical pillars and archways are a true delight and reveal the fun and courageous creativity of the architects.

For over 100 years the area has maintained its garden city vibe, and fought for it! Puu-Käpylä was nearly torn down in the 1960’s but a strong grass roots movement for the area managed to save them. Today historical Puu-Käpylä is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency.

and views

Idyllic streets

Olympic villages and beyond

The garden city spirit and ethos is not limited only to the historical Wooden Käpylä. You can find the same connection between nature and human nature – the ingredients for a good life – in other parts of Käpylä as well. The Taivaskallio area and the western part of Käpylä both host big, mainly wooden houses with lush gardens and forest around them. The architecture is mainly from the 1920’s and 30’s. Around Taivaskallio you can also find some plastered houses with a more unique twist of functionalism. In Western Käpylä you can spot lumber sheds and little saunas in people’s gardens.

Both areas offer plenty of nature and parks for wander and play. In Western Käpylä playground Kimmonpuisto is the place to go with kids, and in Taivaskallio you’ll find fantastic hills for sledging and rocks for climbing.

If you’re not a fan of gardening, but love the style of Käpylä living, then the two olympic villages – Olympiakylä, built for the 1940 Olympics (cancelled because of the war), and Kisakylä, built for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics (that did happen) – are the place for you. Designed by architects Pauli Salomaa, Martti Välikangas, Hilding Ekelund and garden designer Elisabeth Koch these two areas, with their pastel coloured apartment buildings are a perfect example of how to make most of space – inside and outside. 

By Sampsantie street (see photo above!) you’ll find a row of beautiful stone buildings from the 1920’s. With their high ceilings and classic chunky window sills they feel almost as if you’re somewhere in Kruununhaka, but instead of city streets, the windows offer views over the rooftops of Wooden Käpylä, and in the yard you’ll find garden furniture to share with your neighbours by the blooming lilacs. 

Meet the neighbours

As the story of saving Puu-Käpylä shows, community spirit in Käpylä runs high and strong. In addition, Käpylians have also fought for saving their library, their “own” tramline number one, the local schools, and the Käpylä Community House, a newly started community space for all – and they have always won.

Käpylä has various active associations dedicated to culture and wellbeing of the community, and a range of local events, neighbourhood networks, flea markets in the parks and yards and a summertime village festival Käpylän Kyläjuhlat which has been running for decades, attracting people from all over Helsinki. Not to mention Helsinki’s coolest canopy kiosk Käpylän Kiska!

Käpylä is especially loved by families. The whole neighbourhood is a treat for children with its big yards, gardens, surrounding forests and parks. As a result, when getting to know the neighbours you’re likely to find out that they have spent their childhood in Käpylä and have returned as adults, or even more likely, that they never left.