The first event of the two-year period 2023-2024 on the working theme 'Public Spaces, Urban Cultures, and Constructing Peace' was successfully concluded.

This AESOP TG PSUC Workshop Helsinki was attended by participants from Finland, Norway, Germany, Italy, and Palestine, in addition to master’s students from the Urban Studies and Planning (USP) programme at Aalto University. The event included visits to two public libraries in Helsinki with presentations from designers and library staff, presentations by participants, and a workshop, which ended in a public discussion at the Oodi Library. Discussions that started with public libraries as generators of peace expanded to address topics related to the location of libraries within planning processes, funding of libraries, participatory approaches, their changing programmes and relation to public spaces were discussed.

Thanks to  Christine Mady, Hossam Hewidy, Ebba Högström, and Matej Nikšič for organizing and bringing this event to life! 

You will find the complete report here.