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Terminology and
Abbreviations
The different terms used in the thesis are clarified here. The description of the terms used apply
to this particular thesis only.
Aalto University: Finnish university, created by the merger of the Helsinki University of
Technology (TKK), the University of Art and Design Helsinki (TaiK) and the Helsinki School of
Economics (HSE).
Aalto University's Creative Community: Students, researchers, professors, supporting-,
administrative- and managing staff at Aalto University, who create innovative ideas.
Arabia: City district to the east of the center of Helsinki, where the Aalto University School of
Arts, Design and Architecture is located.
Creative fields: Traditionally some fields of business are more creative than others, generally
arts, crafts, design and stage performance fall in this category. Florida (2002) draws this wider
and lists science, engineering, architecture, design, education, arts, music, entertainment,
business, finance, law and health care as creative fields of work.
Creatives: Those who are working on creative fields, applying skills and imagination
(creativity) to produce something new.
Empty: Indicates the physical emptiness of a space. At the moment there are no people and
objects inside.
Gentrification: When the original inhabitants of an area are forced to move elsewhere due
to the development of the area, and consequent price-rises which make it unaffordable to
remain there.
Milieu: The social environment in which one lives or works.
Obsolete: The state of a building when it is no longer needed for the function it was originally
built and used for.
Otaniemi: City district in Espoo, to the west of Helsinki, where the Aalto University Schools of
Technology are located, as well as the Environmental Art programme, and the Department of
Architecture from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Owner: The person or company who is by mutual agreement in charge of a space or item,
and thereby has the responsibility over it.
Place: The geographic location, as well as a specific point in a space.
Service: A system that provides something, other than objects.
Space: A defined area, either in an interior context or in a wider urban context.
Temporary: With the intent to last for a short time; not permanent. “[A] finite period of time
with a defined beginning and end.” (Bishop, Williams 2012)
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Töölö: City district in the center of Helsinki, where the Aalto University School of Business is
located.
Unused: Space which is not being used at the moment, but which could practically be used.
The space is in theory used, but in practice is not.
User: The person or company using a (collection of) space(s) or items, with or without a
written agreement.
Vacant: Indicates the physical and practical disuse of a space. The space could contain
furniture or other objects, but is not being used.
AYK: Aalto Yliopistokiinteistöt Oy/ Aalto University Properties Ltd. The real estate company
which owns the University premises in Otaniemi and Töölö, as well as the Metsähovi Radio
Observatory in Kirkkonummi.
CBD: Central Business District; in the center of Helsinki where many company offices are
located, as well as the main retail center of the city. It is located roughly to the south of the
central railway station.
HMA: Helsinki Metropolitan Area; consists of the cities Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and
Kauniainen. The city of Helsinki is the capital city, and with over 605,500 inhabitants is the
most densely populated.
MoA: Masters of Arts/Masters of Aalto. A yearly exhibition, displaying the graduation
projects of master’s degree graduates. Until 2012 the works displayed were exclusively
made by students of Aalto University School of Art and Design, from which the name Masters
of Arts was derived. From 2013 onwards all master’s students of Aalto can apply to display
their graduation project or thesis at the yearly show, which was renamed Masters of Aalto
for this occasion.
R&D: Research and Development. Specific activities carried out within companies in order
to create new knowledge and research possibilities for implementation of new systems,
products, technologies, etc.
Sqm: Square meters
T3: Tiede (Science), Taide (Arts), Talous (Economics), refers to the areas of Otaniemi,
Keilaniemi and Tapiola in Espoo, Finland. This area is being developed by the city of Espoo,
and is aimed to become the real center of the city. The city of Espoo consists of seven areas,
which at present all have a separate center. The new center should be an attractor in the
area, and will have English as the working language.
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