A new building has risen in Puotila, Helsinki, replacing the old shopping centre in the area. Residents and commercial tenants moved in July.

Klaavuntie 11 has 113 Lumo homes across eight floors. The sheltered courtyard and fantastic communal spaces are shared with the residents of Asuntosäätiö.

On the fifth of September, the sun shone from a cloudless sky, and the lush courtyard was filled with colourful flags, sunflowers, fairy lights, and balloons.

The table was set with treats from the building’s ground floor – summer rolls from Restaurant Comviet, candy bags from R-kioski, sodas from Alepa, and non-alcoholic beers from Restaurant Pikkulintu. Pizzas were also ordered nearby from Kotipizza in the Itis shopping centre.

Around five o’clock, the courtyard began to fill with cheerful chatter as neighbours arrived to enjoy each other’s company. There were neighbours from babies to grandparents, not forgetting the four-legged residents of the building.

The housewarming party also invited local entrepreneurs, most familiar to Puotila residents and each other from the old shopping centre days. The entrepreneurs have their own tight-knit community, and their services were eagerly awaited after the old shopping centre was demolished.

In addition to the residents, professionals from Lumo homes and Asuntosäätiö were also present. They showcased the communal spaces of the building and answered residents’ questions and feedback to improve the living experience even further.

One of the secrets to Puotila’s popularity lies in its communal nature, and new residents are warmly welcomed. The warm-hearted nature of the residential area sparked the idea for the housewarming event to ensure that a sense of community also thrives in the new Lumo building.

The area has an active neighbourhood association, Puotila-Seura, which organizes various events and conveys residents’ opinions and suggestions to city authorities.

The vice-chairman of the Puotila-Seura board, Mikko Sorsa, was also invited to the housewarming party.

“I hope that in the future, it will be happy to live and reside in these buildings,” Sorsa said in his speech to the residents.

Earlier in the spring, Sorsa mentioned that he considers Puotila Manor the heart of the area and the main venue for events that bring people together and create a genuine neighbourhood feel. Local journalist Jenna Lehtonen also actively speaks about the community spirit of East Helsinki.

In Klaavuntie, the sense of community can be nurtured in the cosy courtyard and the building’s fantastic communal spaces on the top floor. Residents can enjoy a vast rooftop terrace, house saunas, a laundry room, and a club room there.

The refreshments and chats with new neighbours were not the only highlights of the housewarming party. Local artist Erin also performed at the event.

During her performance, Erin reminisced about her childhood and youth in East Helsinki. She even mentioned that she once received a lifetime ban from Restaurant Pikkulintu, located on the building’s ground floor.

Fortunately, the place's owner, Markku Ristevirta, happened to be at the housewarming party, and the ban was lifted during the performance. With a smile, of course.

Tarjoilut ja juttuhetket uusien naapureiden kassa eivät suinkaan jääneet tupaantuliaisten ainoaksi ohjelmanumeroksi, vaan paikalle saatiin myös paikallinen artisti, Erin. 

The sunny early autumn evening ended on a warm note, enjoying music and the company of neighbours.