Every design for Kankaanpää

Kankaanpää is known as a town at a crossroads. It stands where the Hämeenkangas and Pohjankangas ridges meet, and the oldest route in the province once ran over them from Hämeenkyrö to Kauhajoki, the main road between southern Finland and Ostrobothnia. Two Swedish kings passed this way: Gustavus Adolphus on a journey from Ilmajoki to Hämeenlinna, and later Adolf Frederick, who stopped at a spring to water his horses and eat, which is why it has been called Kuninkaanlähde, the King's Spring, ever since.

What makes the town unusual is how seriously it takes its buildings. The wooden church was designed by C. L. Engel, the town hall by Kaija and Heikki Siren, and the Finnish Association of Architects has honoured Kankaanpää for its consistently high-quality, sustainable surroundings. The town has its own art school, the Pori Brigade trains at the Niinisalo garrison, and Kunnonlähde is known for rehabilitation. Its coat of arms shows a golden pine among the forests, and the municipality counts among the rainiest in Finland. Honkajoki joined it, adding villages to the map.

Coming home to Kankaanpää means the road climbing onto the ridge again, Ruokojärven uimaranta and Kirnukallion puisto waiting, and the spring where a king once rested.