Hervanta named Finland’s neighbourhood of the year for its community spirit and design

Tampere’s Hervanta district has been selected as Finland’s Neighbourhood of the Year by the Finnish Heritage Association, which praised its thoughtful urban planning, strong sense of community, and successful multiculturalism.

The association highlighted Hervanta’s walkable access to services—from daycare to university—alongside its proximity to nature and a major employment hub. A new tram line has further integrated the area with the rest of Tampere. “This is a neighbourhood for everyone,” the association stated, noting its diverse population and active local initiatives, including the annual Hervanta Days festival and the community newspaper Hervannan Sanomat.

Longtime resident Sirpa Koivu, a volunteer with the local culture group PAKU, described Hervanta as a “super-neighbourhood” home to nearly 30,000 people. “There’s nothing wrong here—only good things,” she said. “We have students, immigrants, seniors, and families. There’s space and services for everyone.”

Koivu attributed the area’s appeal to decades of grassroots collaboration, from building childcare and youth services in the 1970s–80s to cultural projects during the 1990s recession. “Good living isn’t just about infrastructure,” she said. “Everyone capable must contribute to the local common good.”

The Neighbourhood of the Year title, awarded since 2001, saw 91 nominations this year, with Pirkanmaa and Tampere particularly well-represented. Hervanta’s win follows Tampere’s Pispala district in 2014. A celebration is planned for 3 June at the Muusa statue.

Hervanta was originally designed in the 1970s as a 40,000-resident “daughter city” for Tampere, with construction beginning in 1972. Today, its mix of education, industry, and green spaces—like the Makkarajärvi-Viitastenperä nature reserve—remains central to its identity.