In the land of the elements. Nature in the recreational spaces of the cities of finland

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Finland has been a ground for experiments in the field of the housing environment. A low population density, as well as the unique natural and landscape values of the country have led to a clear trend of respect for nature in its architectural tradition. The paper, based on the theory of the Modern Movement – represented by, among others, Alvar Aalto, as well as on the tenets of Finnish the garden city of Tapiola – provides a characteristic of the role of natural elements in the composition of urban recreational spaces. The paper also discusses the structure of modern building complexes on the basis of the latest residential districts of Helsinki – as well as other cities of southern Finland, focusing on the compositional and functional role played by elements of nature within recreational spaces of a place of residence.