HEHKU – Network Collaboration for the Vitality and Good Living of Häme Region

HEHKU brings out the unique characteristics of the Häme region as a living environment, contributes to the region's sustainable economic growth, and implements the Smart Specialisation Strategy (Smart Häme). HEHKU focuses on three areas of smart specialisation: circular economy, intelligent design, and the development of services and processes. Read more about smart specialisation of Kanta-Häme on European Commission's website.

HEHKU continues the creation of regional networks started during the collaborative project Houkuttelevat nykyasumisen konseptit Kanta-Hämeessä (2020-2022) between Tampere University and the Reginal Council of Häme. Municipal actors and local businesses are involved in every phase of the project. The project also collaborates with the Häme Villages Development Program Hämeen Kylät and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK). Through international references and connections, HEHKU also engages in the global discussion on the future of housing.

Active participation and co-development are at the core of HEHKU. Regions and cities need better tools to actively involve citizens in decision-making to better understand and listen to their desires. HEHKU utilises the UrbanistAI, an AI platform for participatory planning, to create improved methods of communication and visual co-design.

HEHKU has three main goals:

1. Creating a unique housing brand for Häme that highlights the region's distinctive features and attracts movers.
2. Ensuring the quality of each development project from the perspective of a green and just transition by utilising the assessment framework developed by the ASUTUT group. Sustainability is not an additional factor but an inherent characteristic of living in Häme.
3. Promoting genuine networking and co-development among cities, municipalities, universities, businesses, and associations, and establishing enthusiastic and motivated development communities in different municipalities.

Regional Council of Häme/ AKKE

Hämeenlinna, Forssa ja Janakkala

Tampere University

Tampere University, School of Architecture

Panu Lehtovuori, professor, head of the project

Markku Norvasuo, researcher, project manager

Anna Koskinen, researcher

Damiano Cerrone, researcher

Noora Kauppila, thesis employee

Elham Jafari, research assistant

Panu Lehtovuori, panu.lehtovuori [at] tuni.fi

Markku Norvasuo, markku.norvasuo [at] tuni.fi, +358(0) 50 5124 593