Since 2003, Myymälä2 has been building a wide and lively cultural network, bringing together creative people and organisations from all over the world. To support these connections, we’ve been running artist residencies in collaboration with different partners, both here in Finland and abroad.
Now, we’re excited to take care of Villa Eläintarha! Our goal is to bring this beautiful place back to life as a welcoming, long-term home for small, grassroots cultural organisations. We want it to be a space where ideas can grow, projects can flourish, and new connections can take root.
At the Villa and in the park around it, Myymälä2 hosts carefully curated public events. Our vision is to create a calm but inspiring hub, where residents can focus on their work, but also have the chance to join small- to medium-sized gatherings, meet new people, and find future collaborators—without having to step away from the residency.
To make this happen, Myymälä2 and HIAP have formed a consortium. Together, we combine decennial experience in running residencies and global network, with the resilience and the managerial agility of the cooperative. HIAP supports the communication promoting the program and sharing their expertise, while Myymälä2 manages the day-to-day life and activities at the Villa and its finances.
History of Villa Eläintarha
Villa Eläintarha, a beautiful neo-Renaissance wooden villa, was built in 1889 as the home of Frans Oskar Blom, a railway official, and his wife, Olga Cecilia Wikander. They lived there with their seven children: Gerda, Orvar, Signe, Ragnar, Thorsten, Maria (Maija), Hedvig (Heddi).
The villa was once part of a larger community of wooden houses on the outskirts of Helsinki. However, over time, many of these buildings were removed to make way for railway expansion. The City of Helsinki later purchased the villa and carefully restored it, preserving its original charm. In 2000, it was transformed into a residence, designed to reflect a 19th-century bourgeois home and to serve as a unique artist residency.
Today, over a hundred artists from around the world stay here each year, enjoying the peaceful setting by the sea while connecting with Helsinki’s creative community. The villa also serves as a home museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the city’s past and the lives of those who once lived here.
The Eläintarha Area
Eläintarha is a historic area in Helsinki, located by Töölönlahti Bay. In the 19th century, it was part of a scenic park district with lush forests, open landscapes, and recreational spaces. The name Eläintarha means “zoo” in Finnish, though no zoo was ever built there.
In the mid-1800s, the city of Helsinki began leasing land in the area for villas, gardens, and industrial use. Wealthy families and professionals built wooden villas along the shores, while the working-class population lived in more crowded rental housing nearby. The development of Helsinki’s railway system further shaped the area, bringing industrial growth and new residents.
By the late 19th century, Eläintarha became a popular spot for leisure and culture. It had walking paths, parks, and even a restaurant pavilion where people gathered for social events. Over time, some of the old villas were demolished to make way for modern infrastructure, but a few, like Villa Eläintarha, remain as reminders of Helsinki’s past. Today, the area continues to serve as a peaceful green space in the heart of the city, blending history with nature.
Read about the history of the Villa Eläintarha and the surrounding area here.