Have you checked out the Olari living room at the old youth centre in Olari yet?
The Olari living room is a community space, which opened at the Ylä-Olari Winter Garden in January. It is a joint trial of the City of Espoo and EMY Ry, the Espoo Mental Health Association. This trial is about a new cooperation model for providing city facilities for civic activities.
Many ways to relax with friends
Some may know the place as the former youth centre, Läävä, others know it as Talvis. Maybe some people remember the Olari Club. And of course, there are others who have never heard of the place. Now, everyone will know it as the Olari living room. Users of the facility helped to choose the new name, which describe the facility well: a living room is a place to hang out, chat and engage in hobbies with others. It is a place to relax on your own terms.
There will be a versatile open programme that suits all ages at the Olari living room. You will find guidance and company for handicrafts, board games and sing-along events, among others, or just a place to take a breather. You do not need to pre-register or commit to anything to participate.
It is also possible to create your own activities. Associations can reserve the facility, particularly for open activities. Residents can also arrange open, volunteer club activities at the facility. There is also an exhibition space at the Winter Garden, which allows people to hang their works for one month at a time.
The Olari living room is in Ylä-Olari, Espoo at Simo Järvisen aukio, in the old youth centre next to the Olari Winter Garden. The entrance is on the glass wall on the pedestrian street, which has a ramp that leads through the former Winter Garden.
Strengthening the sense of community
The Olari living room is one way to create wellbeing for the residents of Espoo: to bolster the sense of community, provide meaningful leisure activities, and allow residents to influence what happens in their neighbourhood. Its activities also support the operating environment of Espoo-based associations and communities, create operating models and set an example for sustainable use of facilities.
The Olari living room is paving the way for new living rooms, as the facility runs under a new cooperation model. Daily operations have been handed over to our partner, EMY Ry. The city covers the costs of the facility. The experiences gained at Olari will provide us with all-important knowledge on what it takes to run a shared facility and what practices can help to make the operation as smooth as possible.
The Olari living room is intended to operate at least until the end of 2026.
Programme highlights
- Olari spring-cleaning, Saturday 18 April from noon to 3 pm: walk-around to collect litter, flea market with spots for sellers, folding biowaste bags, providing coffee service...
- Open art group, April-May on Mondays from 1 pm to 3 pm and Thursdays from noon to 2 pm (no session on 14 May)
- Mindfulness session, Fridays from 6 pm to 7 pm
- Sing-along at Olari, Monday 20 April and 25 May from 6 pm to 7 pm
- Group workouts on Tuesdays from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
- Community afternoon, share a coffee with your neighbourhood on Wednesdays from 2 pm to 5:30 pm
- Ylä-Olari Board Game Club, Wednesdays at 5 pm (adults)
- Olari living room handicrafts club Lankaa ja kohtaamisia, Thursdays at 6 pm
- Afternoon chess for all, Tuesday 21 April 2026 from 1 pm to 4 pm
- Uusimaa Martha Association showcases natural herbs and presents the Olari Martha section, Thursday 21 May from 2 pm to 6 pm
Inquiries
- Details on all the events in Finnish: https://www.emy.fi/tilapilotti/(external link, opens in a new window)
- Follow the living room on Facebook: Facebook(external link, opens in a new window)
- Follow the living room on Instagram: Instagram(external link, opens in a new window)
- Inquiries and contacts: Tiina Pajula Espoo Mental Health Association EMY ry tiina.pajula@emy.fi tel. +358 50 3107982
Things to keep in mind
The Olari living room is a no-shoes facility: please take of your shoes when you come in. We follow the principles for a safer space(external link, opens in a new window).
The facility is not accessible. The top floor is accessible by ramp. The facility proper is downstairs with spiral stair access only. There is no parking for users.