Ideas for planning from December brainstorming workshop
A brainstorming workshop on pedestrian and cycling areas for Esplanadi streets will be arranged for city residents on 14 December at 5:30 p.m. The event will start with a half-hour walking tour from the main entrance of Helsinki City Hall, facing the Market Square, at 5:30 p.m. After the tour, the brainstorming workshop will start at the Lantern Hall (Lyhtysali) of the Tori Quarters at Sofiankatu 4 C at 6:00 p.m. Accessible entrance to the event is through the Sonck Hall (Sonkin sali) at Aleksanterinkatu 28.
The workshop will discuss future changes to Esplanadi streets and the meaning and life of the area at different times of the day and year. The event will begin with a speech by Laura Kolbe, Professor of European History from the University of Helsinki, who will talk about the importance of Esplanadi as part of Helsinki’s urban culture. The presentations will be held in Finnish, though questions and discussion are also possible in Swedish and English.
Ideas and experiences from a residents’ jury
As a continuation of the workshop, a jury comprising 15 city residents will be formed, which will bring the voice of city residents and people moving in different ways in the planning. The jury will develop plans for pedestrian areas with the city’s experts, consider ideas for improving the urban environment, and experiment with new pedestrian areas in the summer.
The jury will meet 3–4 times in 2023 and possibly 1–2 times in 2024. The meetings will last approximately two hours. The first meeting will be held on 17 January from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the programme will include commenting on the plans, questions related to furniture and envisioning the street space. The second meeting will take place in June, when the jury will perform a test walk in the new pedestrian areas. The experiences gained in the summer will be discussed at the meeting scheduled for September-October.
People of different ages who live in different parts of the city are welcome to participate in the jury. Finnish, Swedish and English speakers can register as volunteers for the jury. The jury members will be chosen from among volunteers so that it will be as diverse as possible.
The application period for the jury will end on 20 December. Selected participants will be notified before Christmas. Sign up as a volunteer for the residents’ jury here.(Link leads to external service)