Kontula

Kontula belongs to the district of Mellunkylä and it is one of the biggest and best-known suburbs in the city as well as in the whole country. Together with its adjacent neighbourhoods, the total population is over 28,000.

A great part of the area was developed in the 60s. The huge apartment blocks include wide yards. There are also many parks. Kelkkapuisto (Sleigh Park) gets its name from the popular winter activity performed there. Due to its size and green spaces, the district has been referred to as the "worker’s Tapiola", a reference to the residential district in Espoo, also known for its gardens. 

The central point of Kontula is the 50-year-old shopping mall where some 80 entrepreneurs run their businesses. For years, the mall's reputation was marked with a huge number of bars. In recent years, however, the mall has started to house many diverse restaurants, many of them run by immigrant entrepreneurs. There are also food production facilities in the area, for example, the famed ice cream house Kolme kaveria ('Three friends'). 

Kontula is home to many rap artists and YouTubers. The Kontula Electronic festival hosted at St Michael's Church and local bars has brought new visitors to the area in the springtime. The already legendary KontuFest attracts thousands of visitors flocking to hear top artists. Street art and skateboarding belong to the scenery here, and several large scale murals made in recent years can be found in the area.

The underground skate park Luuppi has become a mecca for skateboarders. Kontula is also known for its football culture. The local club FC Kontu also plays an active part in building a community feeling. 

Kontula is a district with a mixed reputation, which might also be the clue to its attractiveness. Kontula pops up in many movies, books, and songs. In 2006, the Finnish Local Heritage Foundation picked Kontula as the Borough of the Year in Finland.