Campus as a testing ground for soil improvements
Vegetation and soil are an interdependent whole.
Campus nature is alive and changing – how dynamic design shapes everyday environments
In healthy, well-functioning soil, nutrients are readily available to vegetation, and the ecosystem operates according to its natural processes. By selecting suitable plant species and recognising microclimates, plant communities can be established that flourish with less intensive care.
The aim of dynamic planting design on campus is not to create a static landscape, but an ecologically flexible system that can adapt to changing weather and climate conditions. Diverse, multi-species planting combined with structurally healthy, uncompacted soil forms a foundation that naturally recycles nutrients within the system. At the same time, the soil helps to retain stormwater that would otherwise run off into waterways.
Microclimates in planting design
Built environments naturally give rise to small, distinct microclimates, and the campus is no exception. Buildings, streets and landforms create varied conditions that must be recognised in planting design. In some areas, sun exposure and wind dry out vegetation, while in others, shade helps the soil retain moisture.
Local microclimates can be difficult to detect, and factors such as wind conditions, heat reflected from surfaces, or changes caused by construction can be hard to predict. At the same time, identifying microclimates is often based on simple, everyday observation – for example, noticing where snow melts first in spring, or where heat radiates from asphalt and building surfaces.
Design and maintenance therefore require flexible approaches that allow for adjustments based on observed changes in urban nature. On campus, microclimates such as alkaline heat-affected habitats have been taken into account, for instance in the new meadow habitat near Marsio, where plant species have been established through the collection of seeds from wild plants. In such environments, sandy planting substrates and species that naturally thrive in harsh conditions are preferred.
Plant success as the starting point for design
In healthy soil, nutrients are available to plants and the ecosystem functions according to its natural logic, requiring less maintenance. Achieving this, however, may first require restoring ecosystem functions if construction or other urban stress factors have weakened them.
In campus planting design, the natural habitat requirements of species, local habitat types and the landscape’s historical context are used as key starting points. This makes it possible to implement site-specific solutions, such as permeable growing media or raised beds in areas where rainwater tends to accumulate. In some cases, plant species have also been relocated within the area to more suitable conditions.
A system based on adaptability, continuous monitoring and active management is inherently stable, and plant communities become more self-sufficient from an early stage.
From seed or by division
In the day-to-day maintenance of campus vegetation, efforts are made to avoid the use of newly purchased, greenhouse-grown plants. Instead, vegetation is typically propagated by dividing existing, healthy plant populations already found on or near the campus, or by collecting seeds from local plant communities.
Examples on campus include meadows established entirely from collected wild plant seeds, as well as planted communities of cultivated varieties. Plant selection is guided by detailed knowledge of the local history of the Otaniemi area, which helps to strengthen vitality, biodiversity and the use of native species, while also avoiding the introduction of invasive species. For example, in newly established wildflower meadows on campus, such as those near Dipoli, seeds and plants collected locally are already well adapted to the area and require minimal human intervention. Similarly, careful consideration has been given to the origin and native habitats of any new shrub and tree species introduced.
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Wildflower meadows to promote biodiversity
Campus outdoor areas and meadows are managed strategically, taking the growth site carefully into consideration.
Balancing nature and culture with the campus tree strategy
The campus tree strategy seeks to maintain a balanced and diverse tree population.