Open Source Cities

Helsinki Beyond Dreams, a new book of essays published in conjunction with World Design Capital Helsinki 2012, explores the emerging experimental urban culture in the Finnish capital. Recently cited as the world’s most liveable city by Monocle, Helsinki is enjoying a surge of interest in grassroots urbanism, sustainability initiatives, design explorations and cultural experiments.

Subjects of the essays range from community responsibility, participatory planning, urban farms, pop-up restaurants and urban wild edible foraging.

This book is for anyone interested in making cities better places to live – for citizens, designers, decision makers and planners alike. Embedded in inspiring stories by urban activists, thinkers and artists, Helsinki Beyond Dreams presents ideas for better future cities that can be applied anywhere in the world.

Helsinki Beyond Dreams is edited and compiled by Finnish architect and urbanist Hella Hernberg and published by Urban Dream Management.