Jukka Mäkelä’s portrait was unveiled
The portrait of Jukka Mäkelä, who served as Mayor of Espoo from 2011 to 2025, was unveiled at Espoo Cultural Centre on 28 May 2025.
The portrait will be placed in the foyer of the Espoo Council Hall, where you can also find the portraits of other former mayors.
Mäkelä’s portrait was painted by artist Markku Järvelin. As usual, the former mayor had the chance to select the artist to create his portrait. In Järvelin’s works, the photographic precision based on the art of drawing is combined with the mastery of portrait painting.
Mäkelä’s term as mayor was characterised by the city’s strong growth and visible investments in sustainable growth. Good examples of this include the metro extension and light rail line, two major infrastructure projects thanks to which all the urban centres in Espoo are now located along rail transport routes.
President Alexander Stubb awarded Mäkelä the honorary title of kaupunkineuvos in the autumn of 2024. Finnish citizens can be awarded honorary titles in public recognition of their services to society.
“Mäkelä’s long term as mayor was a very important period for Espoo. It is wonderful to now have his portrait as part of the historical chain. I also want to thank Jukka personally, as his warm and encouraging attitude towards us Youth Council members gave me a perhaps decisive nudge to continueon the path of civic activity as an adult,” says Mayor Kai Mykkänen.
Mäkelä’s bench placed in WeeGee’s yard
The Urban Environment Sector gave Jukka Mäkelä a Tapiola bench as a retirement gift, and he got to choose its location. His choice was the recently renovated yard area of the WeeGee House. The bench was made at the Public Works Department’s wood workshop and installed in its place earlier this week.
In the WeeGee yard area, you can also find a pine tree that was planted in 2022 in honour of the 90th birthday of Pekka Löyttyniemi, who served as Espoo’s Mayor from 1985 to 1995.