Watch the video of Kauniainen made for the the Designcapital-year.

Kauniainen and World Design Capital 2012

The idyllic garden town of Kauniainen still abides by the same principles according to which it was established a century ago: a modern, people-oriented, functional and developing community, where interpersonal interaction forms a significant part of everyday life.
 
These same values are the pillars of the local design philosophy. Kauniainen will focus on a handful of umbrella projects that meld together design and services. The aim is to create sensible and sustainable urban planning models, to develop assistance for the elderly using service design, and to involve young people in delineating the future of the town.
 
Events in 2012 will include lectures on the development of urban ideology, public viewings of the studio of one of Finland’s most renowned designers, and an international festival combining music, current events and community spirit. There will also be numerous small-scale projects that will activate the participation of citizens and public bodies.
 
The birth and history of Kauniainen are rooted in refined late-nineteenth-century European community planning and the ideal of the garden city. In the early 1900s, the property company Ab Grankulla bought up some land around Grankulla railway station. Villas soon began to be built and models for garden city design were sought for instance in Stockholm and Copenhagen.
 
The aim was to form a modern community in which the proximity of nature and the related outdoor activities, good community spirit and excellent public transport connections would make for an optimal living environment. That was what they achieved and the legacy to foster for future generations.