Pillar 2:
Ecological transition in the field of culture

Priority 12:
Developing ambitious cultural projects for vulnerable groups

In 2024, the city of Espoo launched a series of workshops where elderly residents in sheltered housing units shared their memories of the city. This initiative aimed to preserve Espoo’s history while celebrating the contributions of its senior population.

The collected material was then given to local artist Jussi Lahtinen to create the picture book A Glance at Espoo, and Urban AI Art Espoo, a media artwork blending past and present images of the city’s districts. The digital work uses artist-driven AI to generate an endless stream of unique images of Espoo’s buildings and landmarks.

The Glance at Espoo book is available in libraries and has been distributed to sheltered housing units and nursing homes. Intended for people of all ages, the initiative has successfully preserved local history and sparked intergenerational dialogue.

A podcast series inspired by the book was also released in Spring 2025, featuring episodes dedicated to each major district of Espoo. It includes interviews with locals, as well as snippets from the ‘reminiscing’ workshops, offering a deeper exploration of Espoo’s identity through personal stories and reflections.