Lepakko: Difference between revisions
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The building was an old paint factory located in the [[Ruoholahti]] district of [[Helsinki]], which had been used as shelter for alcoholics.<ref name="Yle">{{cite news |last1=Sorjanen |first1=Axa |title=Lepakon monet kasvot |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2014/10/07/lepakon-monet-kasvot |access-date=29 November 2021 |work=Yle |date=7 October 2014 |language=fi-FI}}</ref> It was squatted in 1979 and used as a music venue, also providing practice rooms for bands, theatre rehearsal space and a dance school. In addition, a motorcycle gang had a workshop.<ref name="Yle" /> |
The building was an old paint factory located at Porkkalankatu 1 in the [[Ruoholahti]] district of [[Helsinki]], which had been previosuly been used as shelter for alcoholics.<ref name="Yle-Sorjanen">{{cite news |last1=Sorjanen |first1=Axa |title=Lepakon monet kasvot |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2014/10/07/lepakon-monet-kasvot |access-date=29 November 2021 |work=Yle |date=7 October 2014 |language=fi-FI}}</ref><ref name="Yle-Lindfors">{{cite news |last1=Lindfors |first1=Jukka |title=Elmu valtasi Lepakkoluolan kulttuurille |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2006/09/08/elmu-valtasi-lepakkoluolan-kulttuurille |access-date=29 November 2021 |work=Yle |date=8 September 2006 |language=fi-FI}}</ref> It was [[squatted]] in 1979 and used as a music venue, also providing practice rooms for bands, theatre rehearsal space and a dance school. In addition, a motorcycle gang had a workshop.<ref name="Yle" /> |
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Revision as of 17:31, 29 November 2021
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Lepakko or Lepakkoluola was a self-managed social centre in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, Finland, functioning from 1979 to 1999.
History
The building was an old paint factory located at Porkkalankatu 1 in the Ruoholahti district of Helsinki, which had been previosuly been used as shelter for alcoholics.[1][2] It was squatted in 1979 and used as a music venue, also providing practice rooms for bands, theatre rehearsal space and a dance school. In addition, a motorcycle gang had a workshop.[3]
mostly used for rock concerts. Many Finnish rock artists came into popular knowledge through Lepakko. Lepakko also had a sauna and on special "steam club" nights one could enjoy sauna and music. The main organiser of the activity was ELMU ry, the Live Music Association of Helsinki.
The name Lepakko is Finnish for bat - the shape of the logo of the paint factory that previously owned the building had resembled a bat.
In 1979, a group of young people and the ELMU invaded the building and negotiated with the city officials to make it a place for youth and culture. The house was at first named Lepakkoluola (Finnish for bat cave), the name was later in most occasions shortened to Lepakko.
Lepakko was demolished to make way for a new office building in 1999, despite complaints that it should be preserved as an institution and a monument of independent Finnish youth and rock culture. The City of Helsinki hired out Nosturi to ELMU as a substitute.
Currently the site is occupied by a building originally built for Nokia, but actually occupied by Ilmarinen, an insurance company. A statue depicting a bat, in a glass enclosure, is in the yard.
Occupation
Lepakko was the first public squat in Finland and its lifetime was extended by negotiating with the city council of Helsinki.[4]
Lepakko was a foundational site for Finnish punk music and hosted Radio City, a commercial radio station.[4]
It became a thriving self-managed social centre during the 1980s and 1990s.[5]
References
- ^ Sorjanen, Axa (7 October 2014). "Lepakon monet kasvot". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ Lindfors, Jukka (8 September 2006). "Elmu valtasi Lepakkoluolan kulttuurille". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Yle
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Hessler, Martina; Zimmermann, Clemens (2008). Creative Urban Milieus: Historical Perspectives on Culture, Economy, and the City. Campus Verlag. p. 303. ISBN 978-3-593-38547-1.
- ^ Berglund, Eeva; Peipinen, Vesa (21 January 2018). "Spaces of Insurgent Citizenship: Activism and acceptability in Helsinki". Yhdyskuntasuunnittelun seura (in Finnish).
Further reading
- review on a book about the building in the online edition of Helsingin Sanomat (English translation from the international edition of HS)
- 30 minute report from Yle
- Helsingin Sanomat (international edition): "Holy Hermione, Robin – they're bulldozing the Batcave!"
- Bottà, Giacomo (2021). "Helsinki, Finland: Liberalisation, Shifting Night Clusters and Gentrification (2010–2020)". Electronic Cities: 165–181. doi:10.1007/978-981-33-4741-0_11.