Competitiveness through Sustainable and Smart Housing: Inari and Muonio Municipalities’ Collaborative Housing Project

Project Duration: August 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

The project, managed by the Municipality of Inari, aims to design a new concept for smart, sustainable, and community-oriented housing in the municipalities of Inari and Muonio. Co-implementers of the project are the Municipality of Muonio and the University of Lapland. The goal is to collaboratively find innovative solutions to the housing shortage in Inari and Muonio by designing a new sustainable and community-driven housing concept that involves stakeholders and residents in the planning process. The wide-ranging development project supports municipal housing production and local vitality through research, development, and innovation in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable way.

The project is divided into work packages: 1) modeling the smart housing concept, 2) developing a participation model, and 3) planning pilot areas in Inari and Muonio. The project addresses the municipalities’ goal of remaining vibrant, ensures residents have a high-quality living environment, and strengthens community cohesion. It also indirectly supports the growth of local businesses, the availability of skilled labor, and the attractiveness of the region. The project aims to improve residents’ quality of life and satisfaction while enhancing the municipalities’ ability to attract and retain residents.

The main target groups are current residents of Inari and Muonio as well as newcomers willing to participate in designing the new housing concept and interested in moving to the new residential areas. The project provides an innovative operational model to address a key challenge: the lack of suitable housing solutions. It also aims to boldly create new partnerships and operating models across sectors, municipalities, and knowledge boundaries.

The project budget is €176,104, with 95% (€167,299) funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development through the Lapland ELY Centre. The municipalities of Inari and Muonio provide a combined contribution of €8,805.

Current Updates:
The design office MUUAN has been selected as the service provider for the project.

December 4, 2025
Results and ideas generated by the project so far will be presented at a housing seminar in early 2026. The event will bring together builders, developers, representatives from home manufacturers, financiers, businesses, and residents. The seminar will also feature group housing expert Salla Korpela from the Association of Group Housing Developers (Ryhmärakennuttajat ry).

The seminar is divided into two parts. The afternoon workshop is aimed at builders, developers, construction professionals, and those interested in housing. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft housing concept. The evening session, open to everyone interested in housing, will include presentations on plot and housing availability, financing, and construction models. Mini-exhibitions will also take place throughout the day, offering participants the chance to meet construction sector representatives.

The Inari housing seminar will be held at the Kaarre School and Cultural Center in Ivalo on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 2:30 to 7:00 PM. The full seminar program will be published soon, and registration opens on December 9.

Earlier phases of the project have included an online survey and a resident workshop.

For More Information:
Inari Municipality, Business and Development Services: yrityspalvelut@inari.fi