Kera is a district under development in Espoo, Finland, where the former industrial and logistics area is being transformed into a residential neighbourhood focused on sustainable development. The City of Espoo is leading the development, working with landowners, developers and other partners. The city launched the Smart and Clean Kera project in 2019 to support the area’s development as a residential and working district based on a carbon-neutral circular economy.17
Construction began in 2023. The city’s current plan is for Kera to become home to 16,000 residents, with a centre designed primarily for walking and cycling. Planned amenities include varied housing, a service cluster with day care centres and a school, and recreational facilities. The district is close to existing rail links and services, with Leppävaara and Helsinki city centre accessible by train.1
Sustainability measures are part of the planning and construction process. The city’s development commitment, approved in 2021, asks parties undertaking construction projects in Kera to set out how their work will contribute to sustainable development. Its objectives include carbon neutrality by 2030 and low-carbon construction, alongside work on energy, mobility and circular-economy solutions.23
Kera has also hosted temporary uses and practical trials. From 2019 to 2025, the former logistics centre known as Keran Hallit operated as a hub for events, sports, art and small businesses, while providing a site to test urban-development solutions.11 The city describes Kera’s broader development as a testing ground for approaches intended to support sustainable urban living.16