Espoo’s five-centre model makes shared identity difficult

Espoo, a Finnish city built around five urban centres rather than one core, has struggled to develop a shared identity, Yle reports. A tour of the centres found distinct local atmospheres, from Espoonlahti’s connection to the sea to Tapiola’s cultural identity.

The city’s decentralised structure dates back to regional construction agreements made in the early 1960s. When Espoo became a city at the beginning of 1972, its council decided to develop it around local centres.

Mayor Kai Mykkänen acknowledges that building a common identity is more difficult in a city organised around five centres.

Espoonlahti residents identify with their district

In Espoonlahti, a district in southern Espoo, many residents point to the sea as the area’s defining feature. From the centre near the Lippulaiva shopping centre, Klobben beach is about two kilometres away.

Kirsti Olin has lived in Espoonlahti for 46 years. She moved there from Helsinki’s Puotila district because it shortened the journey to relatives in Turku. Schools close to home also made the area suitable for her family.

“There has to be water, and you have to be able to get to the sea,” Olin said at a market café. She swims regularly, including during the winter.

Raija Dahlqvist, who has lived in Espoonlahti for half of her life, agreed that the sea is the area’s best feature. Swimming has always been important to her, although she now does it less often because she does not feel safe going alone.

Toivo Stremberg, in his twenties, has spent his entire life in Espoonlahti. His friends, schools, work and experiences are all connected to the district.

“I am more of an Espoonlahti resident than an Espoo resident,” he said.

Kenneth Johansson, also a native of Espoo, chose to move to Espoonlahti ten years ago. He said the area offered a suitable home, services at the shopping centre and nearby nature.

Espoo’s identity can be difficult to embrace

Researcher Annukka Saaristo describes Espoo as a complex and contradictory place without a single identity. In her doctoral thesis, she examined how Espoo is discussed in Finnish rap music.

According to Saaristo, Espoo is commonly associated with the middle class. Rap lyrics also portray another side of the city, including deprivation, problems linked to suburban districts and darker themes.

Saaristo said local communities and residents often connect rappers to particular districts. This creates a shared understanding of the surrounding reality and helps people experience a place as part of their identity.

Rather than identifying with Espoo as a whole, people often connect with their own district and local community. Saaristo said this may be because the city’s identity is unclear, making it easier to identify with a smaller area.

She also said that not everyone feels represented by Espoo’s middle-class stereotype.

“There has been some discussion that an Espoo identity can even be a little embarrassing,” Saaristo said. “Not everyone wants to be part of a debate that emphasises the middle class. They therefore reject characteristics associated with being from Espoo.”

Tapiola residents emphasise culture and community

Tapiola, one of Espoo’s urban centres, has retained a distinct identity shaped by its planned neighbourhood environment and cultural institutions.

Marja-Liisa and Erkki Löytymäki first moved to Tapiola in 1974. They later lived elsewhere before returning seven years ago.

“Life here was wonderful. It had a sense of a village community, the swimming hall was in use, and we enjoyed living here with our two daughters,” Erkki Löytymäki said.

He said Tapiola remains distinctive and has gained services following the completion of its new centre alongside the metro. In his view, the older part of Tapiola, which was built as a model neighbourhood, still radiates a sense of calm.

However, he said Tapiola’s expansion had also brought problems.

Pihla Rothoff described Tapiola residents as generally active. She said incomes may be higher than in some other parts of Espoo, which could be visible in the area.

Compared with Espoo’s other urban centres, Rothoff highlighted Tapiola’s cultural centre and city theatre.