About Taina

Taina is a multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show award-winning Landscape Designer, Horticulturist and researcher in the Fifth Dimension – Vegetated Roofs in Urban Areas research group of the University of Helsinki. She holds a BSc in Environmental Biology and a Master’s degree in Environmental Change and Policy from the University of Helsinki. Her research concentrates particularly on the environmental change and policy regarding vegatated roofs in urban areas. She obtained British professional qualifications in the field, the Horticulture HND in Northern Ireland.

Projects

She worked as chairperson on the Vegatated Roof Strategy of the City of Vantaa, Finland’s fourth
largest city, located in the Helsinki metropolitan area. It was published in autumn 2022.

Taina is considered a leading pioneer in Finland on vegatated roofs, and she takes pride in her work in the field. She sees it as improving the quality of our lives but also as an absolute necessity in the face of the megatrend of urbanisation, with a view of preserving and supporting the biodiversity of our natural environment.

She is the co-initiator and landscape designer of the Greenest of the Green, internationally awarded block of flats project in Helsinki, completed in 2017. The block of flats (121) has green walls, vegatated roofs and roof gardens, including a kitchen garden and there is a powerful idea towards communal aspects of living in a block of flats. The residents share the roof gardens for recreational purposes and grow flowers, herbs and vegetables in the garden. The housing project with its green walls and roof gardens is subject to research on the plants and environmental
aspects as well as the sociological impact of the shared greenery on the community living in the
building. Please read more

One of her current projects, which she is particularly proud of having been a co-initiator of, is a major housing development Kurkimoisio in Vuosaari, Helsinki, comprising five blocks of flats (350 flats). Read more. She has designed all the yards and greeneries, including green roofs, which every single block will have. There is a strong research-related approach in the development by the University of Helsinki research group. This development stems from her aforementioned project, the Greenest of the Green.

Her recent international designs include the City of Vantaa Diversity Park Garden (Jinan, China, 2021), London’s amazing Pantechnicon’s roof garden and indoor plant design (2020) Please read more from Financial Times. She is no stranger to London having earlier worked with Professor Nigel Dunnett’s design to create the “dreamy and magical” Barbican Centre roof garden and TT- Liquor-Bar Roof Garden (2019). At present Taina is a member of a design team for a major Sapporo roof garden in Japan. 

Taina is constantly busy designing roof gardens, gardens and greeneries in urban settings, many of them in notable locations like National Housing Fair in Vantaa, Finland or Jousenpuisto apartment building in Tapiola. She designed roof gardens, gardens and outdoor lighting for the project.

Taina lectures at various educational institutions (for example the University of Helsinki and the Aalto University) on vegatated roofs, gardening and design, and writes articles on matters relating to horticulture, gardening, landscaping and the environment. Her style of garden design is foremost a celebration of the natural, ecological biodiversity-supporting beauty of the native wild, without forgetting a touch of the more dashing elements of flowering glory in carefully selected areas of her designs.

Positions of Trust

Taina was a member of the Executive Board of the Scandinavian Green Infrastructure Association (SGIA) (2015-2022). Her previous positions of trust include a member of the Panel of Experts on Sustainable Development for the National Association of Green Environment (VYL), the Deputy Chair of the VYL (2013-2017) and the Chairperson of the Garden Builders’ Association (Puutarhanrakentajat ry) and also the Chair of Finnish Horticulturists’ Association (2012-2015).

She was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Urban Diversity research project (2010- 2013), coordinated by the University of Tampere and an expert for the “Deck and Roof Gardens and Green Roofs Committee” on the renewal of the RT 85-10709, Finland’s National Building Code on the subject matter.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

In 2019 Taina came to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the first ever Finnish designer and first ever Nordic female designer with her The Roots in Finland Kyrö Garden, for which she was awarded a Silver-gilt. After the Show, the garden was incorporated in the garden of the Finnish Embassy in Belgravia, London.

Her second garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show The Finnish Soul Garden featured at the Chelsea Show 2021. She was awarded a Silver-gilt for her garden. The garden’s two large black granite boulders were relocated in the RHS Wisley Science Garden.

In 2022 her tried RHS Chelsea Flower Show Connected, by EXANTE -garden was awarded a Silver- gilt. It will be relocated to the University College Hospital in London.

Her fourth garden Cavernoma on My Mind -garden designed together with Taina’s good friend Anne Hamilton will feature at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023.

Previously, for 14 years Taina worked on award-winning garden designers at the Chelsea Show (Carol Klein, Andy Sturgeon, Thomas Hoblyn, Paul Stone, Nigel Dunnett, Catherine MacDonald, Mark Gregory), as Planting Designer being in charge of plant composition and planting teams.

Contact us!

Taina Suonio
MSc Environmental Policy and Change, BSc Environmental biology, Landscape Designer, Horticulturist
Roslings Manor Gardens
Kvarnudden 12
07930 Pernaja
FINLAND

Tel: +358 (0)50 44 35 789

taina.suonio@rmgardens.fi
Business ID: 2526251-7
You also can find me from LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Contact us!

About Taina

Taina is an environmental biologist, landscape designer, horticulturist and researcher in the Fifth Dimension – Green Roofs in Urban Areasresearch group of the University of Helsinki. She holds a BSc in Environmental Biology and a Masters degree in Environmental Change and Policy from the University of Helsinki. Her research concentrates particularly on the environmental change and policy with regard to green roofs in urban areas. She is currently working as chairperson on the Green Roof Strategy of the City of Vantaa, Finland’s fourth largest city, located in the greater Helsinki region.
Taina is an environmental biologist, landscape designer, horticulturist and researcher in the Fifth Dimension – Green Roofs in Urban Areasresearch group of the University of Helsinki. She holds a BSc in Environmental Biology and a Masters degree in Environmental Change and Policy from the University of Helsinki. Her research concentrates particularly on the environmental change and policy with regard to green roofs in urban areas. She is currently working as chairperson on the Green Roof Strategy of the City of Vantaa, Finland’s fourth largest city, located in the greater Helsinki region. Taina is considered a leading pioneer in Finland on green roofs, and she takes pride in the work in this field. She sees it as improving the quality of our lives but also as an absolute necessity in the face of the megatrend of urbanisation, with a view of preserving and supporting the biodiversity our natural environment. Taina lectures at various educational institutions on green roofs, gardening and design, and writes articles on matters relating to horticulture, gardening, landscaping and the environment. Her style of garden design is foremost a celebration of the natural, ecological biodiversity-supporting beauty of the native wild, without forgetting a touch of the more dashing elements of flowering glory in carefully selected areas of her designs.
Taina is an environmental biologist, landscape designer, horticulturist and researcher in the Fifth Dimension – Green Roofs in Urban Areasresearch group of the University of Helsinki. She holds a BSc in Environmental Biology and a Masters degree in Environmental Change and Policy from the University of Helsinki. Her research concentrates particularly on the environmental change and policy with regard to green roofs in urban areas. She is currently working as chairperson on the Green Roof Strategy of the City of Vantaa, Finland’s fourth largest city, located in the greater Helsinki region. Taina is considered a leading pioneer in Finland on green roofs, and she takes pride in the work in this field. She sees it as improving
IMG_8668

Veera Konstin

Taina is considered a leading pioneer in Finland on green roofs, and she takes pride in the work in this field. She sees it as improving the quality of our lives but also as an absolute necessity in the face of the megatrend of urbanisation, with a view of preserving and supporting the biodiversity our natural environment. Taina lectures at various educational institutions on green roofs, gardening and design, and writes articles on matters relating to horticulture, gardening, landscaping and the environment. Her style of garden design is foremost a celebration of the natural, ecological biodiversity-supporting beauty of the native wild, without forgetting a touch of the more dashing elements of flowering glory in carefully selected areas of her designs. In 2019 Taina came to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the first ever Finnish designer and first ever Nordic female designer with her The Roots in Finland Kyrö Garden in the Space to Grow category, for which she was awarded a Silver-gilt. After the Show, the garden was incorporated in the garden of the Finnish Embassy in Belgravia, London. Her second RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden project, The Finnish Soul Garden will feature at the Chelsea Show 2021 in May. Previously, for over 14 years Taina worked at the Chelsea Show for leading British garden designers, mainly being in charge of planting teams and plant composition, on several award-winning designs. She is the co-initiator and landscape designer of the Greenest of the Green, internationally awarded block of flats project in Helsinki, completed in 2017. The block of flats (121) has green walls, green roofs and roof gardens, including a kitchen garden and there is a powerful idea towards communal aspects of living in a block of flats. The residents share the roof gardens for recreational purposes and grow flowers, herbs and vegetables in the garden. The housing project with its green walls and roof gardens is subject to research on the plants and environmental aspects as well as the sociological impact of the shared greenery on the community living in the building. Please read more
Taina obtained her first professional qualifications in the field, the British Higher National Diploma (HND) in Horticulture in Northern Ireland. For over fourteen years she has worked for leading British garden designers (Carol Klein, Andy Sturgeon, Thomas Hoblyn, Paul Stone, Nigel Dunnett, Catherine MacDonald, Mark Gregory), mainly as Planting Designer on several award-winning designs at the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show. She is the “mother” and plant and landscape designer of the Greenest of the Green award-winning block of flats project in Helsinki, which combines green walls and roof gardens with research of both the plants and environmental aspects as well as the impact of the greenery on the community living in the building, i.e. sociological and communal factors. Taina is constantly busy designing roof gardens, gardens and greeneries in urban settings, many of them in notable locations (National Housing Fair in Vantaa, Finland, and the afore-mentioned “Greenest of the Green” block of flats project, comprising research green roofs, biodiversity kitchen garden, berry forest garden and a deck garden and many others). At the Barbican Center Roof Garden in London, she worked together with prof. Nigel Dunnett. Her previous positions of trust include the Deputy Chairperson of the Association of Green Environment (VYL, 4 years) and the Chairperson of the Garden Builders’ Association (Puutarhanrakentajat ry). Between 2012-2015 she was the Chairperson of Finnish Horticulturists’ Association.
the quality of our lives but also as an absolute necessity in the face of the megatrend of urbanisation, with a view of preserving and supporting the biodiversity our natural environment. Taina lectures at various educational institutions on green roofs, gardening and design, and writes articles on matters relating to horticulture, gardening, landscaping and the environment. Her style of garden design is foremost a celebration of the natural, ecological biodiversity-supporting beauty of the native wild, without forgetting a touch of the more dashing elements of flowering glory in carefully selected areas of her designs. In 2019 Taina came to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the first ever Finnish designer and first ever Nordic female designer with her The Roots in Finland Kyrö Garden in the Space to Grow category, for which she was awarded a Silver-gilt. After the Show, the garden was incorporated in the garden of the Finnish Embassy in Belgravia, London. Her second RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden project, The Finnish Soul Garden will feature at the Chelsea Show 2021 in May. Previously, for over 14 years Taina worked at the Chelsea Show for leading British garden designers, mainly being in charge of planting teams and plant composition, on several award-winning designs. She is the co-initiator and landscape designer of the Greenest of the Green, internationally awarded block of flats project in Helsinki, completed in 2017. The block of flats (121) has green walls, green roofs and roof gardens, including a kitchen garden and there is a powerful idea towards communal aspects of living in a block of flats. The residents share the roof gardens for recreational purposes and grow flowers, herbs and vegetables in the garden. The housing project with its green walls and roof gardens is subject to research on the plants and environmental aspects as well as the sociological impact of the shared greenery on the community living in the building. Please read more
One of her current projects, which she is particularly proud of having been a co-initiator of, is a major housing development Kurkimoisio in Vuosaari, Helsinki, comprising five blocks of flats (350 flats). Read more. She has designed all the yards and greeneries, including green roofs, which every single block will have. There is a strong research-related approach in the development by the University of Helsinki research group. This development stems from her aforementioned project, the Greenest of the Green. Her lastest project, open to the public in September 2020 at Belgravia, London, is the amazing Pantechnicon’s roof garden and indoor plant design. Please read more from Financial Times. She is no stranger to London having earlier worked with Professor Nigel Dunnett’s design to create the “dreamy and magical” Barbican Centre roof garden Taina is a member of the Executive Board of the Scandinavian Green
One of her current projects, which she is particularly proud of having been a co-initiator of, is a major housing development Kurkimoisio in Vuosaari, Helsinki, comprising five blocks of flats (350 flats). Read more. She has designed all the yards and greeneries, including green roofs, which every single block will have. There is a strong research-related approach in the development by the University of Helsinki research group. This development stems from her aforementioned project, the Greenest of the Green.
Taina Suonio_5

Jukka Gröndahl

Builders’ Association (Puutarhanrakentajat ry) and also the Chair of Finnish Horticulturists’Association (2012-2015). She was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Urban Diversity research project (2010-2013), coordinated by the University of Tampere and an expert for the “Deck and Roof Gardens and Green Roofs Committee” on the renewal of the RT 85-10709, Finland’s National Building Code on the subject matter. She offers a variety of gardening-related services with dedicated professionalism, which has earned her some appropriate feedback: “Thank you Taina – my go-to person for show garden planting – a true ecological artist with plants.” Nigel Dunnett, Professor of Planting Design and Vegetation Technology, and Director of The Green Roof Centre, University of Sheffield. BBC & RHS Show Garden, Hampton Court, London” “Very skilled horticulturalist. Pleasant to work with and an extremely good eye for plant combinations”. Anne Hamilton, Landscape Designer Fox Gardens “Taina is a passionate expert in gardening and landscaping. She has strong visions to improve the branch in overall but can implement small pieces of garden heavens here and now as well! Trusted colleague, business partner and friend.” Eeva Ek, CEO, Terassi Media Oy “Taina Suonio on perehtynyt kasvillisuuden hyödyntämiseen kaupunkisuunnittelussa ja -rakentamisessa. Alallaan hän on johtavia konsultteja Suomessa ja luotettava yhteistyökumppani.” Jussi Hietalahti, CEO, J10 Architects Ltd “Suonio and I worked together at the Chelsea Flower Show on several show gardens. Suonio was a major asset when it came to the planting of the gardens. She is extremely hard working, reliable, and very dedicated to the ‘perfect finish’. Suonio is always great fun to be around and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.” David Dodd, Owner & Managing Director, The Ourdoor Room Ltd “Taina worked with me to help with the planting of my show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2012. She was an incredibly dedicated and hard working… also showed the most fantastic sense of artistry when working with plants, combined with a very practical attitude.” Nigel Dunnett, Professor of planting design, University of Sheffield
Her lastest project, open to the public in September 2020 at Belgravia, London, is the amazing Pantechnicon’s roof garden and indoor plant design. Please read more from Financial Times. She is no stranger to London having earlier worked with Professor Nigel Dunnett’s design to create the “dreamy and magical” Barbican Centre roof garden Taina is a member of the Executive Board of the Scandinavian Green Infrastructure Association (SGIA), since 2015. Her previous positions of trust include the a member of the Panel of Experts on Sustainable Development for the National Association of Green Environment (VYL), the Deputy Chair of the VYL (2013-2017) and the Chairperson of the Garden Builders’ Association (Puutarhanrakentajat ry) and also the Chair of Finnish Horticulturists’Association (2012-2015). She was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Urban Diversity research project (2010-2013), coordinated by the University of Tampere and an expert for the “Deck and Roof Gardens and Green Roofs Committee” on the renewal of the RT 85-10709, Finland’s National Building Code on the subject matter. She offers a variety of gardening-related services with dedicated professionalism, which has earned her some appropriate feedback: “Thank you Taina – my go-to person for show garden planting – a true ecological artist with plants.” Nigel Dunnett, Professor of Planting Design and Vegetation Technology, and Director of The Green Roof Centre, University of Sheffield. BBC & RHS Show Garden, Hampton Court, London” “Very skilled horticulturalist. Pleasant to work with and an extremely good eye for plant combinations”. Anne Hamilton, Landscape Designer Fox Gardens “Taina is a passionate expert in gardening and landscaping. She has strong visions to improve the branch in overall but can implement small pieces of garden heavens here and now as well! Trusted colleague, business partner and friend.” Eeva Ek, CEO, Terassi Media Oy “Taina Suonio on perehtynyt kasvillisuuden hyödyntämiseen kaupunkisuunnittelussa ja -rakentamisessa. Alallaan hän on johtavia konsultteja Suomessa ja luotettava yhteistyökumppani.” Jussi Hietalahti, CEO, J10 Architects Ltd “Suonio and I worked together at the Chelsea Flower Show on several show gardens. Suonio was a major asset when it came to the planting of the gardens. She is extremely hard working, reliable, and very dedicated to the ‘perfect finish’. Suonio is always great fun to be around and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.” David Dodd, Owner & Managing Director, The Ourdoor Room Ltd “Taina worked with me to help with the planting of my show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2012. She was an incredibly dedicated and hard working… also showed the most fantastic sense of artistry when working with plants, combined with a very practical attitude.” Nigel Dunnett, Professor of planting design, University of Sheffield

Contact details:

Contact details:

Taina Suonio MSc Environmental Policy and Change, BSc Environmental biology, Landscape Designer, Horticulturist Roslings Manor Gardens Kvarnudden 12 07930 Pernaja FINLAND Tel: +358 (0)50 44 35 789 taina.suonio@rmgardens.fi Business ID: 2526251-7 You also can find me from LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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