Article Highlights
A sense of community: A sensitive introduction of new functions and improvements deepens the connection people can have to space. Simple, modular and adaptable designs turn a functional space into a welcoming place.
Placemaking: Placemaking-centered suburban regeneration initiatives foster the development of urban districts and communities, ensuring social sustainability with an emphasis on enhancing public spaces.
Better walkability: Providing areas for rest along the route fosters social life. It encourages citizens to linger, sit, gather and play.
Public places are a key to a socially sustainable and liveable city, especially local market squares. They have the potential to act as the heart of a community by gathering social life. Market squares have a strategic role in maintaining healthy urban social ecosystems. That is why it is so important to actively involve people early in the co-creation of friendly and inviting places for all.
The challenge
The square of Ylä-Malmi strongly lacked green and social life. Featured in Helsinki’s Suburban Regeneration Program, the area needed a transformation. Prior to the realization of a new square plan (2025-2026), the City of Helsinki mandated Parkly and RaivioBumann to initiate that shift. The challenge was to be met by using placemaking and implementing a modular pocket parks and seating spots as well as place activation programme.
The solution
The design intervention resulted from a placemaking project conducted by RaivioBumann. The goal is to embrace the local culture by studying how people use the space and to collect their wishes for the future development. Community co-created through various activities that emphasize participation and interaction. Place dynamics influence the choice of the locations and functions of Parkly-modules.
Parkly explored the themes of urban nature, children’s city and market life in the experiment. On one hand, the modular pocket parks added more greenery and seating to increase stay and informal gatherings. On the other hand, it formed a route along the market square and supported walkability. It helped to activate the area, make it come to life.
”Placing elements of biodiversity in public space opens new corridors for natural life to reorganise itself and regain vitality. This promotes holistic well-being, from the health benefits of biodiversity transfer to improving mental health.In our study of Ylä-Malmin-Tori, we witnessed how even small-scale interventions can increase contact between people and nature and benefit from its restorative power. By strengthening nature, we strengthen society” – Damiano Cerrone, SpinUnit.
Placemaking allowed Parkly to make simple improvements and test their design. It resulted in an early activation of the area and the production of place-led information. Most importantly the visible actions during the project work as a platform for interaction and increase participation, seeing the change and learning about the future changes is creating more opportunities for bottom up actions too.
The popularity of the green pop-up spaces demonstrated the potential of placemaking in urban development. In the context of the renewal of a key public place, it acts as a platform for interaction between local communities and urban planners.
Outcome measurement:
The impact of Parkly pocket parks on the use of the square was measured, which include:
- Childrens are much more present on the square;
- No or very little vandalism;
- More greenery has attracted more pollinators;
- Malmi Market Day was the most active day in the summer in terms of number of visitors, a flea market and many other events took place on this day.
“Testing different design solutions and activating spaces through community events before more permanent change happens, opens a time window, during which we can gather useful information about the space and generate new ideas. I believe this approach will result not only in better end solutions but also in new local synergies that will sustain these places as lively and meaningful local spaces” – Salla Ahokas, project manager, City of Helsinki.
Urban Revival:
- Enhancing attractiveness: The use of Parkly-modules as part of an ongoing placemaking process introduces elements that will shape the future identity of the renewed square.
- Project flexibility: Urban experimentation benefits from Parkly’s flexible nature. The urban experimentation project is growing organically as it develops into a formal city plan.
- Environmental and aesthetic contributions: A gardening workshop from the neighboring daycare was organized. Nurturing urban green environments deepens children’s sense of care and connection with nature.
Get involved: Interested in seeing similar transformations in your area or collaborating with Parkly on a project? Get in touch or explore other successful case studies, such as how we designed a winter project for and with the youth in Kerava.
Parkly is dedicated to making urban spaces greener, more functional, and vibrant for everyone to enjoy.
