Green spaces, fresh air, summer barbecues, and children playing. In the shared courtyards, residents can enjoy a sense of community and the outdoors. The courtyards are designed to serve residents in a variety of ways throughout the year.

True to their name, the idea behind the communal courtyards is that everyone participates together in their operation and development. All residents of the blocks are welcome in the courtyards, not to mention their guests. The shared courtyards are like communal living rooms in the open air: their purpose is to serve as areas for play and relaxation. Residents can meet, get to know one another, spend time together, and engage in informal activities in every shared courtyard.

The shared courtyards in Kalasatama have also brought a part of the area’s history back to life. Sompasaari was once Captain Sundman’s vacation island, from which the names of the streets and roads derive. At that time, the island was home to a nationally renowned kitchen garden featuring hundreds of plant species.

Some of these plant species have been revived in Kalasatama, as large numbers of them have been planted in the community gardens.