Katja and her family moved into a Lumo home in Pakkala in Vantaa in 2002. They had not planned to stay long but ended up falling in love with the area.

“The kids went to daycare and school here and their friends are here. For them, Pakkala has been a wonderful place to grow up. The yards are bustling with life and there’s a sense of community. We have work parties and events regularly, and we love barbecuing with the neighbours. The housing company has also arranged its recycling and waste management really well.”

At the start of the millennium, Katja would have described Pakkala as a small spot of land in the middle of vast fields. Even though the area has since been considerably developed, the peacefulness has not changed.

“We have our own little yard where we can relax after our hectic workdays. When the children were small, we had a favourite spot on the banks of the Vantaa river where we liked to ride our bikes. We used to bring snacks and sit there, spotting different kinds of birds and fish.”

Katja is thankful that much of the local nature has remained untouched; in addition to the fields, the area is rich in forests.

Many of the area’s services can be reached on foot; residents can find everything they need in the Jumbo Shopping Centre. The Flamingo Entertainment Centre is the place for you if you want to see a movie, go bowling or visit a spa.

Those interested in history and nature will love exploring the grounds of the protected Backas Manor from the 17th century. In the middle of the rural landscape, it is difficult to believe you are standing in a city district of 10,000 residents and in the fourth-largest city in Finland.