Asuinpiirit

Asuinpiirit (Finnish for "residential circles") is a concept used in Finnish urban planning to describe compact, self-contained residential clusters that group housing, services, and green space to support everyday life and social interaction. The term is applied to a range of arrangements, from formal housing cooperatives to municipally owned neighborhoods, and is often associated with designs that prioritize walkability and community facilities over car dependence.

A typical asuinpiiri features a cluster of housing blocks centered on a shared outdoor space or courtyard, with pedestrian links and easily accessible common facilities such as laundry rooms, meeting rooms, daycare, or small shops. The governance of these circles is usually handled by a residents’ association, housing cooperative, or the managing body of the housing company, giving residents a say in maintenance and use of shared areas.

The purpose is to foster social cohesion, improve safety, and enable efficient service provision by concentrating needs within a walkable area. The concept also aligns with Nordic planning goals that emphasize sustainable living, local participation, and high-quality public spaces.

In practice, asuinpiirit is not a single standardized category but a design and governance approach that appears in various municipal and developer contexts. Its usage varies by region and project, reflecting different housing policies and market conditions.

See also: urban design, neighborhood, housing cooperative, walkability.