ABSTRACT
Neighbourhood units from 1960's to 1980's, built in the golden era of concrete prefabrication technology, form a significant part of housing stock in Finland (Kakko 2010). One third of apartments are located in these areas, called by the common noun lähiö, with one fifth of the Finnish population living in them (Vaattovaara 2010). In addition to the neighbourhood units, single buildings of this distinctive type are also located in towns and villages. Unlike in many countries, Finnish large-panel developments aren't solely composed of social housing but also, and to a significant extent, of privately owned housing companies (Lankinen 1998). Despite the form of ownership or geographical location, the characteristics of the buildings are remarkably similar across the country. Even though some developments have been evaluated to have historical or architectural value, most of the buildings are nothing but industrial mass production.
