Tapiola was largely constructed in the 1960s and was designed as a garden city. It is the location for Espoo's cultural centre.
The name 'Tapiola' is derived from 'Tapio' who is the forest god of Finnish mythology, especially as expressed in the Kalevala.
Tapiola is also the name of a Finnish insurance company, presumably from the location of its headquarters. Among other companies headquartered in Tapiola are Nokia and Fortum, the Finnish national oil company.