ABSTRACT
This chapter bases on a literature study and a number expert interviews with a variety of key people involved in the project and in the city administration. It describes and analyses the project itself: its history, objectives and characteristics, opportunities and threats. The chapter focuses on the context of the project: how does it fit within developments in the information and communications technologies/media sector, and in the policies for the city of Helsinki? The Lasipalatsi building is located in the heart of the city of Helsinki. The chapter elaborates on several aspects of the project: its functional concept, its alternative organisational setting and financial issues. It draws some opportunities and threats for the future, and draw conclusions. A fundamental premise of the Lasipalatsi concept was to have complementary companies and institutions in the building, to make the sum of the project bigger than its parts. The Helsinki Metropolitan Area is one of the fastest growing urban areas in Europe.
