Lapsiperheiden keskusta-asuminen : arabianrantalaisten perheiden asumisvalinnat ja muuttotoiveet

The topic of this Master's thesis (Pro Gradu) is the housing of families with children and their moving desires in the inner city. The objective of this thesis is to find out which factors would explain the increased number of children living in Helsinki inner city in the recent years. In national discussions, it has been considered why families with children stay in the inner city: is it a consequence of the global popularity of urban housing or is it due to the economic recession? In this thesis, these factors are examined through structural and cultural values. The effects of financial resources of families with children as well as the significance of the area's location and services are categorised as structural factors. The values of families with children related to housing and attitudes towards it, relationship with the neighbourhood as well as culture and recreation are counted as cultural factors. This thesis brings up the hopes and wishes of families with children concerning good living environment as well as ideas on what kind of living environment would best meet the children's needs and how it could be implemented through planning and design. Arabianranta is a new residential area favoured by families with children in the eastern inner city. The residents of Arabianranta are middle-class and have higher education. This thesis examines the housing selections, housing satisfaction and moving aspirations of 17 families with children living in Arabianranta through thematic interviews. Families are attracted to Arabianranta residential area by the new, affordable family apartments and the surrounding nature as well as the child-friendly environment of the area. Based on this thesis, families with children are happy with living in Arabianranta. The families who participated in the thesis were divided into three groups based on the research results: Urban residents living in self-owned apartments (47%), urban residents living in rental apartments (36%) and people planning to move elsewhere (17%). Urban families (83%) want to continue living in the inner city. They are willing to make compromises on the apartment's size rather than its location. Based on the research results, it can be stated that urban families feel that smooth day-to-day life and short commute are the most important reasons for living near the city centre. It is important to them that the children's days at day care do not become too long and that the family has time together in the evenings. Based on this thesis, the most significant reasons for the increasing amount of families with children in the inner city are the attractiveness of inner city areas and the popularity of urban way of living. Families with children see the inner city as a very attractive option, and people do not want to move away, if it is financially possible for them to remain in the area.