Villa Eläintarha is owned by the City of Helsinki. The residency is run by Myymälä2 cooperative. Myymälä2 does not provide production support for the projects. Such support is provided by the organisations that invite the artists (festivals, galleries, museums, etc).
The residency offers artists a serene and inspiring environment that blends historical charm with modern comforts, making it an ideal space for creative work.
The villa accommodates six residents at a time. Five rooms are located on the second floor, and one is on the ground floor. Each guest room is private, fully furnished, and marked with a room name. Artists-in-residence have access to shared kitchens, a living room, and other communal spaces that encourage a sense of community.
Rooms & Amenities
Private Rooms
Six private rooms (Gerda, Maria, Signe, Ragnar, Thorsten, Hedvig).
Comfortable bed, desk, and wardrobe.
Four rooms have sofa beds that can accommodate an additional guest (pre-approval and fee apply).
Weekly linen and towel service.
Room cleaning once a week. (optional opt-out available)
Shared Spaces
Two fully equipped kitchens (one upstairs, one downstairs).
A cozy living room on the second floor.
Three shared toilets and showers.
Laundry facilities including washing machines, a tumble dryer, and a drying closet.
Balconies and outdoor areas.
Included Services
Regular cleaning of common areas.
Weekly change of bed linen and towels.
Free access to laundry facilities.
Recycling options for glass and paper.
Free high-speed Wi-Fi (Helsinki City Open WLAN).
Floor Plan
Second Floor: Five guest rooms (Gerda, Signe, Ragnar, Thorsten, Hedvig), shared living room, kitchen, toilets, showers, and access to the balcony.
Shared Spaces: Kitchen and living areas are communal and designed for casual gatherings and shared meals.
Accessibility
The villa is a historical wooden building with limited accessibility features.
There is no elevator, and stairs are required to access the second floor.
Guests should inform Myymälä2 in advance of any specific accessibility needs.
Ecological Travel
Villa Eläintarha is dedicated to reduce the environmental impact of the organisation’s activities. Therefore we encourage the residents and our partner organisations to arrange travel to Helsinki via land or sea. More information on the convenient travel routes to Helsinki can be found here.
This information was compiled by HIAP as part of the Post Fossil Transition Programme. Find more information here: https://www.hiap.fi/pofo/
House Rules
To ensure a pleasant and respectful atmosphere, residents are asked to follow these guidelines:
Quiet Hours: 10 pm – 7 am.
Guests: Overnight guests are permitted only with prior approval. A service fee of €60 per additional guest per week applies.
Parties & Gatherings: Small-scale meetings or gatherings are allowed during daytime hours. Large events are not permitted.
Pets: Pets are not allowed in the villa.
Smoking: Smoking is strictly prohibited indoors and in the outdoors vicinity of the villa.
Keys: Residents receive one key for both their room and the main entrance. Lost keys incur a €200+ replacement fee.
Cleaning: Residents are responsible for keeping common areas tidy. If additional cleaning is required due to misuse, extra charges apply.
Safety: Always close windows and lock doors when leaving. Do not leave the entrance door open under any circumstances.
Recycling: Glass and paper recycling are available. Other waste should be sorted into mixed waste bins.
Full information about the House Rules can be found at the link.