Briefly in English
Kalasataman Vapaakaupunki is for us all. There anyone can arrange an event free of charge, as long as it is open for everyone and fits with the values and spirit of Vapaakaupunki. It’s a space where anyone can come in, chill out, work, read books, take part in events and workshops or make your own event.
In recent years, we have seen a lot of temporary activities in Kalasatama, like Container Square, urban culture, graffiti, skating, Sompasauna and various events. We want to preserve the spirit of this Kalasatama, which has brought the much needed freedom to the city center. We want to create space for self-reliance, collaboration, art, culture, and people. Try, what we can achieve together.
In the first phase of Kalasataman Vapaakaupunki Suvilahti became a new urban oasis for two months in summer 2018. Respecting the heritage of the area it was built using containers, which adapted to the scene of various events. In addition to the containers, there were also barbecue facilities and a park with urban gardening.
After huge popularity in last summer Kalasataman Vapaakaupunki held in Suvilahti, we decided to continue Vapaakaupunki in a new form in REDI (Hermannin rantatie 5, 00580 Helsinki), where in October 2018 we opened Kalasataman Vapaakaupunki’s Olohuone (eng. The Free City of Kalasatama – Living Room).
What is Olohuone?
We opened Olohuone in autumn 2018, on the second floor of shopping center REDI in Kalasatama. The space is almost 450 square meters of size and 5 meters of height. It’s decorated like a living room, and sectioned into different spaces: for hanging out, quiet area for quiet hanging out or working and area for events and for making workshops. There is also monthly changing art exhibitions that you can enjoy for free. The spaces are suitable for many different activities, for example workshops, hobby crafts, board gaming, co-working, yoga etc, and on Saturday evenings also DJ- and live music gigs.
You can bring your own food and drinks in Olohuone, as long as you clean after yourself. Olohuone is for us all and we all create it and take care of it. Anyone can use Olohuone, from children to elderly, and we don’t allow any kind of discrimination. Check up daily opening hours from our Facebook page.
We also have room for children (Lastenhuone) which is also on the 2nd floor of REDI, across the Kalasatama Library.
Organizing events in Olohuone
At Olohuone anyone can organize their event as long as everything is open for anyone and free (you can ask fees from the materials). Events can be organized within Olohuone opening hours. Music gigs and other more noisy events can be held on Saturday evening between 19-22.00.
We also help with the arrangements and offer for example furniture, electricity, audio technology and also a sound technician for the event organizers free of charge. We ask you to take care of the furniture and return everything back to its place. The event organizer will be responsible of damaged or lost items.
Many people might want to organize events during one day, so let’s be aware of everyone’s needs and timetables. Let’s take care together of Olohuone and all the people coming there!
What will happen there is still a little surprise to us too, because we want to leave room for improvisation. If you have any suggestions about what should definitely happen in Vapaakaupunki, let us know!
Read more in the event organizer guidelines and sign up your own event.
Who is behind the project?
Most of all, Olohuone is a project for us all! Behind Vapaakaupunki is Helsinki Urban Art ry cooperation with REDI. Helsinki Urban Art ry is a registered association widely specialized in urban art. We bring up new ways to use urban space, create communal city culture and look for solutions to social problems using art and activism as tools.
Contact
Olohuone:
info@vapaakaupunki.fi
+358 46 954 53740 (during the opening hours)
Roosa Lehikoinen
Producer / exhibition curator
roosa@vapaakaupunki.fi
Veera Mononen
Producer / community worker
veera@vapaakaupunki.fi
Anu Leppäharju
Producer
anu@vapaakaupunki.fi
Jaakko Blomberg
Founder, producer
jaakko@vapaakaupunki.fi
044 5478354
Ilmari Pellikka
Sound technician
ipellikk@gmail.com