Lepakko

Lepakko was a place for youth culture in Helsinki, Finland, functioning from 1979 to 1999.

The building was mostly used for rock concerts. Many Finnish rock artists came into popular knowledge through Lepakko. Lepakko had also a sauna and on special "steam club" nights one could enjoy sauna and music. The main organiser of the activity was Elmu RY, the association of live music.

Lepakko also hosted a radio station called Radio City since 1985. The name Lepakko is a Finnish word for bat, since the shape of the building vaguely resembles a bat.

History

The Lepakko building was originally a warehouse for a paint factory, built in 1940. From 1968 to 1979 it functioned as a shelter for homeless people.

Later, a group of young people invaded the building and negotiated with the city officials to make it a place for youth and culture. Lepakko was demolished to make way for a new office building in 1999, despite complaints that it should be preserved as an institution and a monument of Finnish youth and rock culture.

Notes

The word "lepakko" (meaning bat, not this building) is also used as a slang word for lesbian women, mainly among lesbians themselves.

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