lic , offering an attractive living environment in the heart of Tapiola . The area – going by the name Kirjokansi – already features 127 apartments , with another batch to follow soon . Eventually , there will be as many as 330 apartments .
Kim Särs , CEO of LocalTapiola Real Estate Capital Funds , points out that for Ta piola , this is , quite literally , “ the next level ”. The views from the apartments to the neighbouring park and beyond are tremendous – there are , for instance , green roofs in place that really pay tribute to the spirit of the Garden City .
“ The legacy is carried on in a modern way ,” adds Särs .
Banking on Tapiola
Vesa Immonen , Managing Director of LocalTapiola Real Estate Asset Management , says that the company already owns more than a dozen properties in the Ta piola Centre to the tune of EUR 600 million . The “ Tapiola Portfolio ” represents the biggest real estate investment in the history of the company .
Tapiola is also the home base of Local- Tapiola , as the company has over 1,500 employees here . It ’ s no wonder , then , that LocalTapiola shares the name with the neighbourhood ( Tapiola is the name of the ancient forest kingdom of Finnish lore ).
“ We feel , in many ways , that Tapiola is making a strong comeback ,” Immonen says , referring to launch of the metro and the kick-off of the brand new bus terminal at the start of 2019 .
With the arrival of the metro , about 30,000 passengers are using the Tapiola station every day . The bus terminal , on the other hand , will handle about 24,000 passengers every day .
“ The bus traffic will involve as many as 100 buses per hour ,” says Kirsi Borg . Looking at those types of volumes , it is easy enough to picture that a completely new chapter in the development of the neighbourhood is about to begin .
Roots Run Deep
Tapiola certainly has a firm place in the hearts of the Finns – and many international fans , as well . The neighbourhood has been regarded as a natural treasure since its birth over 60 years ago : a shining example of a modern community rooted in natural values .
Immonen believes that this Tapiola “ core brand ” remains , for the most part , unchanged , and that the Centre is well on its way to becoming great once more . In Immonen ’ s view , what makes Tapiola Centre unique is that it opens outwards , not just inwards like a regular shopping centre does . This makes for an inviting , engaging setting – and , in fact , the new Tapiola Centre is the largest pedestrian centre in Finland .
“ You can find the whole package here ,” he says . l
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