Paavo Beckman found his first Lahti-based workstead from Malski, the former Mallasjuoma brewery complex, already before it was renovated. Having established a number of international IT companies, Beckman has over the past few years become used to handling most of his work remotely with connections across the globe. When the centre for creative industries Malski was completed in the city centre, it seemed only natural to find premises for Beckman’s newest company, Innopipe, there.
“The building is filled with history and bursts with true urban culture with its cafés and restaurants. At first, I was a little sceptical of the Malva Museum, but already the Maarten Baas opening exhibition made me weep with emotion. I realised how high the standards are here.”
Once a week, Beckman travels to the company’s Helsinki office in the Kalastama District by train and metro. His commute takes a shorter time than that of his colleague from Espoo, even with the walks to and from the stations.
Lahti as a dreary small town is but a distant memory
Lahti is Beckman’s childhood hometown, which he never intended to move back to. When he was young, Beckman moved away for studies as soon as he could and was left with an image of Lahti as a dreary small town. His spouse Karoliina, who is from Eastern Finland, had no other relationship with Lahti than suspicion.
After studying in Tampere, Beckman gained work experience, for example, in Silicon Valley close to San Francisco where he was introduced to the culture of technology companies. Then he lived in Spain with his family for a year.
Now the family have lived in Lahti for six years, and enjoyed it. The Beckmans looked for an apartment by the railway with Lahti out of the question, but chance intervened.
“We were spending the Christmas at my mother’s when my wife noticed that new apartments were being built in the old Möysä fire station. We went there to take a look and found ourselves placing a reservation. Over the construction period we couldn’t help but wonder what we had done.”
Safe hobbies nearby
International experience has taught Beckman to appreciate the ease of living in Lahti where he never has to spend hours sitting in traffic jams. Four of the family’s five sons, aged 5–20, live at home, with a short distance to the day care centre, schools, other services and hobby venues. All journeys are covered by foot, bicycle or public transport.
“Here you can let children and youngsters ride bicycles without supervision, which would be out of the question in many places around the world. Our seven-year-old often asks for permission to go to the library after school, and it is among other family members’ favourite places too.”
Six days a week, one or more of the family’s children have a soccer or wrestling practice or attend scouting activities. For the first year, Beckman stood in the crowd until he realised he was too busy for it. The solution was to take up assistant coach’s duties for FC-Lahti’s youngest groups, so that he too could get some exercise. The family spend a lot of time together engaged in various activities: enjoying nature or playing instruments and dancing at home.
International education and training
Although the Beckmans now believe they will stay in Lahti for quite some time, they have ensured the children’s international skills by placing them in English-speaking day care and bilingual primary school groups. One of Beckman’s 20-year-old twins has already moved abroad for studies. On the other hand, Lahti offers opportunities to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and international programmes at the LAB University of Applied Sciences or the LUT University.
Paavo Beckman has noticed that the dreary image of Lahti is generally shifting towards an idea of a uniquely cool place much like the Kallio District of Helsinki or Brooklyn, New York.
“Helsinki residents make day trips to Lahti for culture, restaurants, small boutiques and celebrations. I too remember visiting Lahti for a wedding of a Helsinki-based couple before we even moved here.”
Author: Ina Ruokolainen
Photo: Lassi Häkkinen