Sami, 28, lives in one of Finland's national treasures – "A nice addition to my resume"

The neighbourhood of Sunila in Kotka is a unique collection of residential buildings designed by Alvar Aalto in the late 1930s as a comfortable and communal industrial and residential area surrounded by nature.

One of the housing companies in Sunila is As Oy Vallinniemenmäki, which includes three buildings: Mäntylä, Honkala and Kuusela. A subsurface drain repair project, which began last year, is nearing completion.

Next on the list are facade renovations for Mäntylä and Honkala. Sami Rikka, chair of the housing company's board explains that because the buildings in Vallinniemenmäki are listed as protected, each renovation must be carefully planned.

"We need to take both the buildings' condition as well as their historical value into consideration. In the facade renovation project, an architect will engage in dialogue with the National Board of Antiquities and Alvar Aalto Foundation," says Rikka.

Chair has the board's confidence

Sami Rikka has lived in Vallinniemenmäki since 2015, when he became a homeowner in the community. He was elected as chair of the housing company's board about a year ago, having previously served as a board member and deputy member.

"A few years ago, the chair at the time asked me to join the board. I saw it as a positive experience and an opportunity to learn new things. Serving on a board also looks good on a resume," says Rikka.

The boards of housing companies are usually populated by middle-aged members, but the 28-year-old Rikka has stepped up to the challenge with an open mind.

"It's true that I'm on the younger side, as the average age of the board is more than 50. Still, I feel that I have the confidence of other members – after all, the board elected me to this position," says Rikka.

He has found that serving on the board of a housing company teaches one a lot about property maintenance, decision-making and finances. It is also a great way to have a say in the quality of living and build skills that can also be of benefit professionally.

Serving on the board of a housing company teaches one a lot about property maintenance, decision-making and finances.

Rikka is a nearly graduated M.Sc. (Tech.) in electrical engineering, but construction is not his main field of expertise. Nevertheless, he enjoys following the progress of the housing company's renovations and visiting the site for the chance to learn new things.

Rikka recommends joining the board of a housing company for other young people, too, as it offers opportunities for personal development and learning to take responsibility. While there are no large sums to be earned on a housing company's board, it’s

worth having a say in how your home in the company is managed.

"Young shareholders are more likely than older residents to have long-term interests, such as carrying out demanding renovation projects, and this is another reason why young people are needed on housing companies' boards," says Rikka.

Decisions are made together

The duties of the chair require making decisions and taking responsibility, but the majority of the board's work is done as a team effort.

"We have a good team spirit on the board and discussions about anything and everything. Interactions with people are a nice balance to the responsibilities.

"Disagreements may arise from time to time, but each viewpoint is argued and discussed and a compromise is always reached.  It's important that the board works together and makes sound, forward-looking decisions."

Disagreements may arise from time to time, but a compromise is always reached.

The chair of the board is an authorised signatory, which means that they can approve invoices and sign agreements on the housing company's behalf. They are also the property manager's closest partner.

"Although decisions are made collectively, it is the chair's responsibility to ensure that things move forward. That includes calling the board's meetings."

Housing companies' renovation projects play with large sums, but for Rikka, they are just numbers on a paper and do not cause him additional stress.

"The costs of projects are approved by the company's general meeting, after which I see them only as figures on a spreadsheet. I pay my share of housing company loans taken out for the projects, but that's the extent of my involvement with the company's money."

A possible future UNESCO World Heritage Site?

The neighbourhood of Sunila, of which the housing company Vallinniemenmäki is a part, is the only residential area designed by Alvar Aalto that has retained nearly all of its original features. As a result, it has been proposed to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This would mean setting up a committee to oversee the area's maintenance and conservation. In the committee, the housing company would work alongside the City of Kotka, the Alvar Aalto Foundation and the National Board of Antiquities.

"Recognising the area as a World Heritage Site would mean bigger responsibilities, but also an amazing opportunity to ensure that Sunila's architecture is preserved for future generations," says Rikka.

While Rikka doesn't describe himself as an architecture enthusiast, but appreciates the work of Alvar Aalto and the history of the Sunila neighbourhood.

"I bought my home here precisely because of the uniqueness of the area. Historical values mean a lot to me, and I want to do my part to help preserve them."