"This summer's fair focuses on housing in Finland's most densely populated areas. As usual, the exhibition is a showcase for high building quality and innovative solutions", describes Marketing Manager Kari Salmi from the Finnish Housing Fair Cooperative Organization.

As a first this year is an interior decoration exhibition featuring almost all of the big brands available in Finland. In addition to 58 decorated homes, the latest trends in interior design will be displayed in a 1,200 square metre exhibition hall.

Showcasing the best of Espoo

Preparations for the fair began four years ago and have now advanced to the stage where building work is at its most intense. A total of 263 homes will be built, from small blocks of flats to terraced, semi-detached and detached houses.

According to Project Manager Seppo Kallio from the City of Espoo, the fair is expected to attract a minimum of 200,000 visitors. With good weather and all being well, visitors numbers could rise even higher.

"The Housing Fair provides a great opportunity to show off some of Espoo's best assets - high-quality living close to nature in the metropolitan region. In addition to the general public, there will be extensive participation by various expert groups including municipal decision-makers, civil servants and building professionals to whom we can demonstrate Espoo's practices," Seppo Kallio says.

The Housing Fair is set to significantly boost trade in Espoo as well as promote overnight stays and outings to the city's other attractions.

Espoo Housing Fair 14 July - 13 August 2006

More information: Espoo Housing Fair