Vision for lasting success
2029 will mark a momentous year for Turku as it reaches its 800th anniversary. Turku aspires to be an interesting and constantly renewing European city of universities and culture, and a good place to live and succeed together. To achieve this, Turku will develop and grow boldly in the coming years. The starting point for renewing the city is fostering the well-being of its residents and stimulating its businesses in a sustainable way - ecologically, socially and economically. Turku will be responsible for the competitiveness and success of the entire city region. Over the years, through many projects, procedures and targets, the City of Turku has increased the vitality and attractiveness of the centre area. As a result, living in the city centre has become more popular. Moreover, tourism and events continue to grow stronger in the centre and on the riverbanks. At the same, specific challenges have emerged, such as the current changes experienced in trade and work. The rapidly digitizing environment poses new kinds of requirements for organizing different functions and services and calls for smart and ambitious policies directed towards developing the centre.
“Both today and in the future, cities are only as interesting and lively as their centres.“
While growth and development are globally centralized in growing cities, success is increasingly dependent on compact societal structures and, above all, vibrant city centres. Both today and in the future, cities are only as interesting and lively as their centres. The quality of the centre’s core and its planned development reflect the state and the future of the city on an international level. In addition to the business and cultural environment,
the physical and functional environment of the city are central factors that affect the city’s competitiveness and success. Developing the centre is a priority and one of the spearhead projects set by the Turku City Council. The city has directed special effort and resources to strengthen the vitality of its centre. Ambitious objectives have been set for the spearhead project. One objective is to reinforce the position of a vibrant city centre as a pleasant collective environment for all city residents by improving public urban spaces, increasing year-round attractions and ensuring that the requirements for maintaining events and a dynamic cultural life are met. In addition to the larger picture and story, the vision seeks to offer concrete means of increasing the number of residents and jobs in the centre. It also aims at unifying the functions of the centre so that separate quarter and property specific can be linked together, supporting each other while also connecting with the existing functional and physical environment. It is also important that the future centre will be internationally, nationally and regionally accessible with all modes of transport. Turku is Finland’s oldest inhabited city. The long-term value gained from developing the centre will also affect the development of Finland. The purpose of the vision is to shape the direction for the 30-year process that will result in an even more vibrant, European and exciting Turku. Aleksi Randell Mayor of Turku
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