Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2014 | Page 17

THE ANGLE
By Hannu Penttilä
The writer is Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki

Culture Boosts Helsinki to New Heights

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Photo: City of Helsinki Media Bank / Pertti Nisonen

The appeal of cities is based on
their role as meeting places.
In the city, different ideas and
thoughts emerge, spearheading
creativity. The city fascinates
us especially due to its unique
urban culture which can
not be copied. Culture has
surpassed the significance of
raw materials in the growth
of the cities, as the evolution
of competitive factors has
meant a transition from simply
manufacturing goods to
knowledge-intensive industries.

ny city should have a soul of its own.
This, however, does not happen overnight; a city is a tour de force of generations and centuries. Travellers turn to a
new city looking for its true substance, the
story which belongs to that city alone. As the
various identities of metropolises clash, cities hoping to add new production and population should have their own message out
there.
Urban culture does not blossom on anyone’s say-so. Urban culture grows from democracy and local creativity. Models plagiarised from somewhere – or force-fed from
above – have a habit of producing failed
phantom towns.
Urban culture is, first and foremost,
culture for the every-day: a quick stop at a
café in the morning, the feeling of spring in
the city, a moment of triumph on a sports
field or a memorable glance during rush
hour. Human-scale city planning gives us
opportunities to participate in the making

of this every-day culture. It also allows us
the choice to assume the role of the outsider, should we so desire.
The significance of cities as enablers of
urban culture is great. As cities are planned,
we can use subtle means to enhance the spirit of the place and usher in also new experiences. In this task, the high-quality planning and implementation of public space is
crucial. Streets, squares and parks are key
areas in enabling urban culture.
Aiming for urban perfection will only
serve to destroy the citizens’ own creative
impulses; it makes sense to let life – in its
various guises – leave its mark on the environment. We rarely thoroughly enjoy ourselves in an environment designed by others. We, too, want to leave our fingerprint in
the centuries-spanning history of the cities.
Every city needs its rough edges.
Strongly linked to culture, there is also
the chance to experience something for the
first time, something that is both dynamic

and innovative. The city itself – as well as
the people who live there – are the most important resources here. In addition, we need
also special meeting places: libraries, theatres and museums. When they are successful, these cultural anchors offer up a brilliant manifestation of the city dwellers’ values and talents.
We Finns are proud of our nation’s literary tradition and cultural legacy. We are
building a central library in a high-profile
downtown location, to serve as a hub of information and arts. Various new museums
communicate our values through visual and
conceptual arts. We extend an invitation to
all our international friends to come to Helsinki and get acquainted with this new decade of Finnish culture.
Culture in Helsinki is a potent resource
of a new era; like the ultimate magic machine Sampo of ancient Finnish mythology, culture has the power to spread well-being to everyone.
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