Authors

• Hentilä, Helka-Liisa (University of Oulu. Department of Architecture)
• Jauhiainen, Jussi (University of Oulu. Department of Geography)
• Luoma, Pentti (University of Oulu. Department of Educational Sciences and Teacher Education)
• Mäntysalo, Raine (University of Oulu. Department of Architecture)

Keywords

architecture, community development, community life, housing, leisure time activities, local community facilities, neighbourhoods, neighbours, personal safety, place of residence

Abstract

The data are part of the EkoSuKaT research project studying the sustainability of community structures and physical environment in growing and declining regions of Northern Finland. The main aim was to study the needs of communities in order to ensure sustainable residential area development. Six growing and declining residential areas in the outskirts of Oulu and in the Kainuu region were chosen for the study. The areas chosen are typical of their region. This dataset covered the fast-growing municipality of Oulunsalo.

A number of questions gathered information on the respondent's current dwelling and its amenities, housing tenure, length of residence in the dwelling and in Oulunsalo. Access to and use of a car were charted. Further questions covered opinions on various aspects of the neighbourhood, its streets, buildings and open spaces, neighbourhood facilities and services, community safety, noise levels, neighbours, participation in local activities, child day care, school, and co-operation between parents, day care centres and schools etc.

The survey also investigated opinions on the municipality of Oulunsalo in general, its services, the town planning, and the technologised landscape along the airport road with its hi-tech company buildings. Open-ended questions charted what kind of places the respondents regarded as their home and what kind of places they would never regard as home.

The respondents' leisure time activities were studied by asking how many times they had been to/visited a library, a theatre, a restaurant, a sports facility, or a religious event during the past year, or had gone hunting or picking berries etc.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, basic education, occupational status and economic activity, place of study or work, and household composition.