Tapiola, << tap ee OH luh, >> a community in the city of Espoo, Finland, became world famous as a model for city planning. It lies in southern Finland.
A private organization and its sponsors founded Tapiola as a new community, or new town, in the 1950’s. The founders tried to create a community that blends completely with its natural surroundings. They also wanted Tapiola to offer its inhabitants many types of employment, housing, and services so the community would be self-sufficient. Tapiola features a wide variety of architectural styles, and many walking paths. Some of Finland’s best-known architects helped plan the community. Today, Tapiola is the largest business center of Espoo. But it does not yet provide jobs for all its inhabitants. Many of its approximately 35,000 people work nearby, especially in Helsinki.
