Music Centre Nears Completion

H e l s i n k i - I n f o Issue 2 – 2011 March 28 English Supplement

Contents

2 Open regional data 2 Recycling in the Cable Factory 3 Music Centre nears completion 7 Itäkeskus comprehensive school 8 Glossary 9 Feeling at home in Helsinki 11 Big plans for Hernesaari 11 Haven without brand? 12 Brave women fill the Music Centre Sederholm House nears completion Page 3 Open regional data Page 2 Rhinoceros Oy English Supplement

Recycling in the Cable Factory The Recycling factory event will take place in May in the giant Merikaapelihalli hall of the Cable Fac- tory and in the courtyard. The family friendly event is designed to promote an ecological and sustainable lifestyle, targeting both adults and children. The exhibitors are busi- Open regional data nesses and organizations that offer a comprehensive range of eco-design, home solutions and other The Helsinki Region Infoshare is a project The project includes building a web expertise in the eco field. that aims to make regional information service for fast and easy access to open The program includes fashion shows, Do-it-your- quickly and easily accessible to all. The data sources. Users can download infor- self recycling themed workshops and, of course, data may be used by citizens, businesses, mation and use it in decision-making, the highly popular Free FRONT PAGE universities, academies, research facilities utilise it in their applications, or develop of charge market or municipal administration. entirely new services based on the (ilmaistori). The data on offer is ready to be used information, to name just a few exam- This yearly event was freely at no cost. Open access to informa- ples. first organized in 2008 tion can stimulate new services and busi- The project is funded by the cities of and in April 2010 it nesses in the area, and it may also Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa and Kauniainen, attracted already over advance research and development. and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. 7,500 visitors and 100 The data published during the project is The Finnish Ministry of Finance has exhibitors. mainly statistical, giving a comprehensive given the project a municipality cooper- Cable Factory, and diverse outlook on different urban phe- ation grant. Responsible for project Tallberginkatu 1 nomena, such as living conditions, econom- planning, implementing sub-projects May 7–8, open at 10–17. ics and well-being, employment and and coordination are City of Helsinki Free admission. transport. A good proportion of the data Urban Facts and Forum Virium Helsinki. For more info

material offered by the project is GIS based. www.hri.fi/en/ Raine Heikkinen www.kierrätystehdas.fi FRONT PAGE By Johanna Lemola Helena Hiilivirta is the director director the is Hiilivirta Helena of Helsinki Music Centre. Music Helsinki of completion nears music scene. music classical Helsinki’s in dawns era new A Centre Music Helsinki

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of August, the visitor calendar on Hiilivirta’s office wall is full LPR-architects Ltd and includes groups that repre- sent society across the board, from women’s organizations to industry delegations. Her phone rings constantly. “Now we must turn this excitement for music,” she says, point- ing out the task ahead – to widen the audience base and increase overall interest in classical music with the help of the new, magnificent facilities. FRONT PAGE

Culture to embrace everybody Hiilivirta overlooks Helsinki Music Centre from her office in construction yard barracks. The vast structure is only the tip of the iceberg – the visible part is one-third of the whole building, mid growing excitement capital region, looking to reach about the role of the new centre most of which is below ground. about the new music out to new audiences. society. “Everybody wants to The journey to this point, A hall, Helena Hiilivirta “This is exactly it!” exclaims come here.” where final touches are being envisions increased and focused Helsinki Music Centre Director Six months before the centre’s put to the interior, has been classical music offering in the Helena Hiilivirta when asked official opening on the last day equally vast. The past fifteen English Supplement LPR-architects Ltd

Ensuring ideal sound environment As a sign of the fundamental importance of the sound environment to any music hall, but hotly watched in the case of Helsinki Music Hall, the acoustician was chosen before the architectural competition. “This can’t be bungled up!” Helena Hiilivirta recalls herself saying as a member of the jury and, at that time, Manager of the Finnish Radio Sym- phony Orchestra. years have seen many complications In addition to hosting its regular tenants, “I called Esa-Pekka Salonen, Music Director of including fights with civic organizations the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finn- Los Angeles Philharmonic,” she continues. Salonen about the site, but now all that is history. ish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Sibel- played an important role in the development of Dis- FRONT PAGE “The world has changed over these ius Academy, Helsinki Music Centre will ney Hall, Los Angeles’s celebrated music hall, which years,” Hiilivirta says. “Overall apprecia- give a world-class venue for many Helsinki was under construction at the time. Disney Hall had tion for culture has increased, and the region ensembles that have been playing chosen Nagata Acoustics of Japan, led by Yasuhisa concept of culture is now broader. People in churches and halls primarily not Toyota, as their acoustics designer. no longer see classical music as some- designed for classical music. The centre Nagata Acoustics also won the acoustics design thing elitist. Proof is the valuable citizen will also host orchestras from outside the contract for Helsinki Music Hall. activity we’re seeing here.” Helsinki region. As a result, the local audience will have easier access to a broad

New opportunities for orchestras offering of classical music. LPR-architects Ltd and audiences The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Music Centre will be increasing which has been playing at Finlandia Hall the classical music offering in the Helsinki on Wednesdays and Thursdays, will region, but essentially the centre will disperse its performances more evenly focus the offering. throughout the week, offering perform- English Supplement

ances on Tuesdays and on week- No doubt the acoustics will be No “wow architecture”: a mezza voce ends every other week. a hot topic of discussion once The Finnish Radio Symphony the concert season gets under- The winning proposal in the the building interior, links the Orchestra will gain a great deal, way. Another major topic may 1999 open international archi- centre to the contemporary securing a regular venue for well be building architecture. tectural competition on Helsinki buildings to the south and east. themselves and able to play “We decidedly went for a low- Music Centre was “a mezza A sloped, landscaped deck links more, also repeating concerts. profile solution which gives voce” by LPR-architects Ltd of the centre with the green area The orchestra’s better opportuni- space to the surrounding, Turku, Finland. to the south. Parliament House ties to broadcast will benefit all impressive buildings at this very The musical term mezza voce is is a key element of the composi- of Finland. demanding site,” Hiilivirta a directive to perform a passage tion, facing the main entrance to Sibelius Academy will now explains. She was a member of of music in a quiet or restrained the concert hall foyer. reach audiences much easier the jury that picked the winning manner and reflects the overall The vineyard-style main concert than before. proposal from among 243 philosophy of the building. The hall opens to the surrounding foyer entries to the international archi- concept of a mezza voca harmo- and lobby areas via sound-insulat- FRONT PAGE A good citizen tectural competition. nizes with and unifies the com- ing glass walls, achieving a sense During the one-hour interview, The building doesn’t rise above position of the Töölö Bay area. of openness. The main hall seats Hiilivirta took two phonecalls the rooftops of its neighbours, The tallest sections of the 1,708. The centre also houses five from Finland’s biggest media, and the green, copper skin helps Music Centre are clad in green smaller concert halls. The class- journalists calling insistent to find to blend the building into its patinated copper and connect rooms and offices of Sibelius Acad- out when the main hall’s acous- natural environment. the building with the green park emy are grouped on seven floors tics would be tested – one of the A “citizens’ piazza” in front of belt. The glazed foyer, revealing on the north side of the building. main original arguments for the building represents the over- building a new music hall in Hel- all philosophy of Helsinki Music sinki was the poor acoustics of Centre – living harmoniously in LPR-architects Ltd Finlandia Hall. She kept repeating its environment, open to every- that testing is impossible before body, promoting democracy. Like the hall is fully finished. a good citizen. English Supplement

Itäkeskus Comprehensive School: By Päivi Arvonen More than thirty languages are spoken at the Itäkeskus Cosmopolitan outlook Comprehensive School, which puts a special focus on foreign language training and international skills. Two-thirds of the 460 students of the Itäkeskus Comprehensive School in eastern Helsinki follow a foreign language track where they take up German or French FRONT PAGE in the third grade and English as their second foreign language in the fourth grade. “The students come from diverse backgrounds,” says the school’s rector Matti Raikunen. “Many of them are children of immigrants who have come to Helsinki seeking for jobs.”

Studying math in the fourth grade. Telhl Mohamood (on the right) and Eemeli Vihervuori. Päivi Arvonen Päivi English Supplement

Glossary

English Finnish Language kieli

Päivi Arvonen Päivi Comprehensive school peruskoulu Chemistry lesson. From the left: Nadja Ahlgren, Meeri Kettunen, Sumeja International kansainvälinen Omar, Amanda Björn and Tiia Heino. Background tausta

FRONT PAGE Sami saame “Some of the students have acquired a language skills on the Itäkeskus Piazza foreign language skill during a foreign post during the European Day of Languages, Russian venäjä of their parents and are here to uphold which takes place on 26 September. their skill.” “Helsinki and the citizens of the city have Chinese kiina The school’s students speak 34 languages turned their eyes to Europe and further,” UN (United Nations) YK (Yhdistyneet between them. Native language training is says Deputy Rector Kirsti Santaholma. kansakunnat) provided in ten languages, comprising Sami, “Our students acquire skills that help them Russian, Chinese, Farsi, Somali, Nepali, to live and work in the global community. Europe Eurooppa Kurdish, Albanian, Urdu and Filipino. Our everyday international contexts broaden September syyskuu Their rich language palette is utilized by their thinking and give them new perspec- the school on many occasions such as at tive. We are already living a reality that is Deputy Rector apulaisrehtori a special language event on the UN Day still only to come elsewhere in Finland.” and in start-of-day ceremonies. The school’s students have demonstrated their Translated by Johanna Lemola English Supplement Arvonen Päivi

Feeling at home in Helsinki By Päivi Arvonen

Ghadi Boustani has well adjusted to life in Helsinki and offers advice to other immigrants on how to do it.

“Helsinki is a real gem, and I “Lebanon has many problems feel perfectly at home here. I’m but also a great deal of civiliza- particularly attracted to the tion. I think civilization is deter- FRONT PAGE cleanliness and greenness here, mined by how people live their as well as to nature and the way lives and treat their fellow citi- people and animals coexist in zens.” harmony. There are few cities Boustani adjusted to life in where one can constantly run Helsinki soon after his arrival in into animals like rabbits, birds, 1998. pheasants and even owls.” These are words of Lebanese media entrepreneur Ghadi Ghadi Boustani urges all foreigners Boustani. in Finland to learn Finnish. “You can Helsinki’s pride of its 450-year get by in English in Helsinki, but history makes him smile a bit. without Finnish you can’t under- “My home town Byblos goes stand the Finns and the culture. Lan- back over 7000 years,” he says. guage is the key to people’s hearts.” English Supplement

“During my childhood in Leba- family, part of the Christian The young man’s dream about other simple TV shows, which non, I knew about Finland only minority, internal refugees. Bous- fame in his country’s film industry taught me words. I never studied that it was a clean Scandinavian tani moved to the Soviet Union didn’t come true because there Finnish formally and my gram- country with plenty of good to study cinema in 1990 and were no good opportunities for mar isn’t perfect, but I can milk.” graduated as a director in 1996. him. In 1998 Boustani moved to understand Finnish well and the The Finnish drinking culture “I was fascinated about the Finland with a Finnish girlfriend. Finns understand me.” keeps amazing him. Russian language and culture. Today he’s married to a Russian Boustani began his profes- “My home country has been I picked up the language easily, woman. His home language is sional career in Finland upon his producing wine for the past five and when I speak with Russians Russian, but he communicates arrival by photographing an thousand years. In Lebanon and today, I feel myself Russian. fluently in Finnish, too. acquaintance for the local news- in many other countries it’s When I chat with Finns, I feel “I learned Finnish by watching paper. As his work experience, shameful to be seen drunk, but myself a Finn.” The Bold and the Beautiful and Finnish language skills and cul- Finns boast about their drinking tural understanding grew, he FRONT PAGE and making fools of themselves. approached The Finnish Broad- I wish people could define and casting Company YLE. recognize their limits, so society “I’ve been freelancing for YLE and authorities wouldn’t have to for 12 years by now. I’ve been guard and control them.” flexible and done many things – directed, done camera, produced Learning Finnish and anchored. I don’t have to be from TV shows the boss and feel at ease in Boustani’s native language is other roles. I believe flexibility is Arabic, but his family also used a good approach for other immi- French at home and he went to grants, too, as they seek jobs school in French. His childhood and move on in the work life.” was shadowed by the war that started in 1975 and made his Translated by Johanna Lemola Päivi Arvonen Päivi English Supplement

Big plans for Hernesaari Haven without brand?

Helsinki has big plans for Hernesaari area are plans for a “workshop village” next to A recent study addresses the position of the Cen- and its cruise ship harbour. The harbour an industrial hall, which could also serve tral Baltic Sea region in the global race for Asian receives about 300,000 cruise passengers vendors as well as providing space for talent. From the global perspective, the Central each year. small studios. Baltic Sea region is fairly small and its history as a The new plans include services for this The square will host various events. For destination for highly skilled migrants is brief. huge potential clientele from summer example, Hernesaari will be the home The number of Asian students and professionals 2011 onwards, comprising a waterbus base of European sailing championships is steadily rising in Finland and in Sweden, while quay, a square for happenings, a guiding in the summer of 2011, expected to the Asian migration to Latvia and Estonia is still system and walkways. Entrepreneurs are attract one thousand participants and minimal. invited for design saunas and an art wall. tens of thousands of spectators. From the point of view of skilled Asians the main Waterbus service from the new quay will Avanto Architects have produced a plan strengths of Finland and Sweden are excellent FRONT PAGE provide cruise passengers more alternatives for modern wooden saunas on the Her- quality of living and education and the appeal of to reach the Helsinki Market Square in the nesaari waterfront available for citizens welfare state. However, the region is unknown in city centre and the Suomenlinna sea for- and visitors throughout the year. Another Asia and offers only limited career prospects, in tress. There will be a mobile service to plan involves a 170-metre-long art wall addition to which the interviewees suffered often guides the visitors. on an industrial hall. from social exclusion. Booths and containers on the Hernesaari There is clearly a need to brand the Baltic Sea square will be rented to vendors. There Hernesaari now (left) and in the future. region in Asia, but, unless combined with local actions assuring that the promises to the migrants will be kept, branding remains insufficient.

Maija Merimaa, Iina Oilinki: Haven without a brand. City of Helsinki Urban Facts Study reports 2010:8 www.hel.fi/tietokeskus Photo and image: Helsinki City Planning Department Photo and image: English Supplement

Courtesy Anita Khemka/Photoink Courtesy Helsinki Info is a printed newspaper published by the City of Helsinki and distributed to all Helsinki households six Exhibition times a year. Helsinki Info’s English Supplement resembles the main publication in Brave women fill the format but is published online on the Sederholm House City Website, also six times a year. Next issue 30.5.2011 The National Council of Women of Finland celebrates its 100th Publisher: City of Helsinki www.hel.fi anniversary with the exhibition Editor-in-Chief: Rita Ekelund “Women’s Rooms – Lives and Phone (+358 9) 310 36074 Actions”, which tells the story of City of Helsinki, Communications gender equality in Finland. It P.O. Box 1 FI-00099 City of Helsinki, Finland shows the decades of hard work to provide Finnish women with a Finland. The Sederholm House, women became the first in Graphic design: Guassi Oy room of their own, a rightful completed in 1757, is the oldest Europe to be granted the right Send us feedback: FRONT PAGE place in society. building in Helsinki city centre. to vote and stand for election. [email protected] The Helsinki City Museum is Its atmospheric rooms now Gender equality progressed Do you want to subscribe to Helsinki Info English Supplement? Send your e-mail celebrating its hundredth anni- present both well-known and quickly in the decades after the address to versary this year just like the forgotten women and their cou- war, particularly from the [email protected] National Council of Women of rageous actions to improve the 1970s onwards. Equality was position of women. reinforced by many laws, and in Info kit In the late 19th century, Finnish politics and elsewhere women Information for all residents women started to get organised, advanced to the top of society. Virka Info telephone service (09) 310 11111 (Mon-Fri 9–15) and information point in the establishing associations aiming City Hall lobby, address Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13 at the improvement of women’s Sederholm House, (Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat–Sun 10–16). www.virka.fi circumstances and rights in vari- Aleksanterinkatu 18 Info Bank is an online service aimed at immi- ous areas of life and society. The Open 9 March–28 August, grants, offering information on Finnish society persistent work soon began to Wed–Sun 11–17, Thu 11–19 and life in Finland in 15 languages. The website also contains local information on Helsinki. bear fruit. In 1906, Finnish Free entry www.infopankki.fi Courtesy Anita Khemka/Photoink Anita Courtesy