Karhusaaren Lastenmaailma
enEnglish
fiSuomisvSvenska
en
fisv
Lastenmaailma: Astu satuun

Together, let’s build the funniest Cultural center in the world!

Kids’ World is an internationally interesting, artistically high-quality, engaging and playful culture center and a top travel destination that will be built in Karhusaari, Espoo.

At Kids’ World, the Nordic children’s culture flourishes surrounded by world-class architecture and Finnish nature. In its fairy-tale like atmosphere, the stories and characters in literature come to life. It is a place where you dive into stories and art by reading, playing and doing things by your own hands. It is a world of cultural experience, nothing like anywhere else in the world.

What to do in Kids’ World?

Fairy tales and stories are the core of Kids’ World. It is a place where you get to know the new literature and Finnish classics, meet well-known characters in literature, play, read, listen and create new art with the help of art educators.

Kids’ World wants to be a high-quality culture destination for kids and adults. The aim is to increase kids’ and adults’ shared reading and writing time by offering memorable ways to experience literature and other forms of art and children’s culture. Kids’ World strengthens children’s involvement, significance, and appreciation in Finnish society and cultural heritage.

For whom is Kids’ World made?

Kids’ World is a place for kids and adults to do things together and experience art. It is an easy access destination full of experiences for locals and tourists alike.

Why Kids’ World?

Finnish and Nordic children’s cultures are high-quality and internationally interesting. Our highly functioning society, clean nature, and safety are admired around the world and have their roots in a dignified childhood. Kids’ World is our national and international showroom and an interesting cultural destination for Nordic children’s culture.

Lastenmaailma projekti
Lastenmaailma osana Espoota: Kartta

Kids’ World as part of Espoo

Kids’ World will be built in Karhusaari, Espoo. The naturally beautiful island is located next to the Western Highway, at Keilalahti neighborhood.

The magnificent nature of Karhusaari supports the experience of living the fairy tales and stories. The area is well-served by constantly developing transport connections. Kids’ World is a project that is wise to build where is willpower and skills to do the project and enough population and tourist to make it profitable. Espoo is a city with a growing and ambitious cultural offer – perfect for families with children.

The city of Espoo has proposed a city planning reservation for Kids’ World in Karhusaari that will cover four  hectares and be valid for two years. During that time, the Kids’ World concept, precise finance plan and details concerning the construction will be finalized. Kids’ World’s estimated need for space is 10 000 square meters.

How nature is taken into account in construction of Kids’ World?

A close and sustainable relationship with nature is an integral part of Nordic childhood. Hence Kids’ World will be built to respect the nature and according to the sustainable development principles. The building has a natural place in a field on top Karhusaari Hill. The state of the old buildings in the area will be evaluated for the possibility they can be used as a part of Kids’ World after being renovated.

Karhusaaren Lastenmaailma

How the rest of Finland will benefit from Kids’ World?

Kids’ World is the starting point to explore Finnish children’s culture. Kids’ World collaborates with the 28 member centers of the Association of Finnish Children’s Cultural Centers. The exhibitions and programs produced at Kids’ World and in other Cultural Centers around Finland will circulate to support the quality and visibility of children’s culture in Finland and internationally. Children around Finland can participate in projects through the local children’s cultural centers.

Lastenmaailma: Ovi koko Suomen lastenkulttuuriin
Lastenmaailma: Idean synty

How the idea of Kids’ World was born?

The idea of Kids’ World was first discussed in Taneli Heikka’s column “Children and children’s culture deserve their own place in Finland”. The column suggested that the house would be a place where the visitors would meet old and new classics (for example, the Moomins and the characters of Doghill, new superstars Tatu and Patu, Ricky Rapper and Ella as well as the traditional Finnish fairy tale characters.)

Several Finnish children’s culture observers and concept designers contacted the writer. One of them with a similar concept in mind was Jussi Nurmio from N2 Helsinki.  Jussi and Taneli decided to collaborate on this dream together: the idealistic and exciting vision enabled by well-functioning networks and resources. Also joining early discussions was the Association of Finnish Children’s Cultural Centers, now part of the coalition. Lastenmaailma ry was founded to officially proceed with the project.

Who is building the Kids’ World?

Lastenmaailma ry, founded in summer 2018, leads the Kids’ World project. The founders are Taneli Heikka, father of the idea, and N2 Helsinki Oy, who is responsible for the concept, public relations and communications, supplemented by a group of friends of children’s culture.

Lastenmaailma ry collaborates with the Association of Finnish Children’s Cultural Centers in content production. Lundén Architecture Company is partnered for city planning and architecture.

Lastenmaailma: Idean rakentajat

Who owns the Kids’ World and how is it financed?

Kids’ World is planned to be commercially viable, with earned profit given to work for children’s benefit.

During the preparation period, the project will be headed by Lastenmaailma ry. Later, Kids’ World Foundation will be created to carry out the project. The foundation will own Kids’ World and be responsible for operations. The founders of the Foundation will primarily be other foundations, organizations, businesses and private persons who feel that the project is important for Finland and especially for children.

Kids’ World’s operating costs are covered by ticket sales. The operating model will be similar to Linnanmäki amusement park, owned by The Children’s Day Foundation, who operates and develops the amusement park and collects money for Finnish child welfare work. Founder organizations share profits and put this money to work for children’s benefit. The Children’s Day Foundation has cumulatively donated more than 100 million euros to child welfare work.

What stories and characters are involved?

Finland has plenty of great stories that we hope involve in Kids’ World in memorable, multidisciplinary art form. Kids’ World combines permanent exhibitions and temporary content. Kids’ World’s exhibitions are primarily curated stories and content, performed by the writers, children and other children’s culture actors. We will let you know more later as we are able to confirm specifics.

What is the cost of building Kids’ World and how many visitors are expected to visit there?

The construction of Kids’ World is expected to cost around 50-70 million euros. The amount of investment will be clarified as the planning goes forward.

The annual visitor goal is 600 000 visitors, with a target revenue of 12 million euros and an annual profit of 2 million euros.

Lastenmaailma
Lastenmaailma
Lastenmaailma

How can I participate?

Kids’ World is a huge project that is achieved through cooperation. We invite individuals and organizations that want to be part of designing and creating a dream to join the project. There is work for everyone. Choose the best way for you to get involved.

Lastenmaailma ry

Lastenmaailma ry was founded in summer 2018 to promote children’s culture and to build the place for children’s culture to flourish. As a member you get to support the construction of Kids’ World and participate in the design of it if you wish so.

Membership of Lastenmaailma ry

During the spring of 2019, we will invite all members to design the contents and spaces of Kids’ World together with children’s culture professionals. Children are welcome as members and participants in the workshop.

As a member of Lastenmaailma ry, you will receive newsletters and be the first to hear about the upcoming events. Children and adults will have their own versions of the newsletter.

You can join Lastenmaailma ry by paying 35 euros membership fee to associations account FI 76 1214 3000 1138 49. Please add your name, email address, street address, and age in the information section.

Financiers

We invite individuals, companies and foundations who want to support the completion of Kids’ World to join our project. We tailor suitable ways for our partners to be part of creating the leading children’s culture project. For more information contact Taneli Heikka, head of Play.

Artistic cooperation

Kids’ World will be build in cooperation with children and children’s culture professionals. Would you like to be part of creating content and programs? Do you have an idea you would like to create together with children, cultural actors and the Kids’ World team? For more information contact our head of Play Taneli Heikka or Pilvi Kuitu, Mervi Eskelinen or Katri Tenetz from the Association of Finnish Children’s Cultural Centers.

Menu