Hanaholmen’s 50th anniversary exhibition lives on online – making the history of Finnish–Swedish cooperation accessible worldwide

Hanaholmen, the Finnish–Swedish cultural and cooperation centre located in Espoo, just outside Helsinki, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. Since its founding, Hanaholmen has served as a unique meeting place for dialogue, culture and societal debate between Finland and Sweden.

The anniversary exhibition highlighted the centre’s history, mission and role as a bridge between the two countries. Public interest has been strong: according to Hanaholmen’s Director of Communications, Håkan Forsgård, the exhibition has already attracted around 14,000 visitors.

Now, a virtual 3D version of the exhibition produced by MeMo at Aalto University ensures that the story continues beyond the lifespan of the physical exhibition – digitally and for an international audience.

Forsgård notes that the virtual exhibition offers Hanaholmen an important opportunity to reach new audiences who may not yet be familiar with the centre or able to visit in person.

‘The interest in cooperation between Finland and Sweden has increased significantly in recent years, also beyond the Nordic countries. The virtual exhibition helps us communicate our mission and activities both nationally and internationally,’ Forsgård says.

According to Hannu Hyyppä, Director of the MeMo Institute, the project also demonstrates how research-based 3D modelling can support both cultural accessibility and the preservation of cultural heritage.

‘This is not just about visual presentation, but about a shared memory. In today’s world, it is more important than ever to tell the story of history, cooperation and diplomacy – and to preserve it for the future,’ Hyyppä says.

Encounters across time and space

The exhibition’s central theme, "Encounters", takes several forms. First, Hanaholmen’s 50-year history is presented through a timeline that places the centre’s activities in relation to key societal events and developments in both Finland and Sweden. The timeline highlights the historical context in which Hanaholmen has operated and the debates and transformations it has been connected to.

“Encounters” also takes on an interactive dimension. At the heart of the exhibition is a festively set table that invites visitors to take part in a conversation about Finnish–Swedish cooperation – past, present and future. What has been discussed? What should be discussed more? What might the future of cooperation between the two Nordic countries look like?

In the virtual environment, visitors can sit at the table in a three-dimensional space and explore themes such as cooperation, debt, work, the future and borders. Animations and an interactive discussion tool encourage reflection on the relationship between Finland and Sweden from multiple perspectives, inviting visitors to actively engage with the exhibition.

Another highlight of the virtual exhibition is an extensive image gallery showcasing people who have visited Hanaholmen over the years – from royalty and heads of state to leading figures in the arts and culture. While the gallery is a permanent feature at Hanaholmen, parts of it are now accessible online to audiences around the world.

Research-based 3D modelling and digital cultural heritage

The virtual exhibition was produced by MeMo, a joint research institute of Aalto University and the National Land Survey of Finland. MeMo’s work is grounded in advanced research on 3D measurement, modelling and information management, with the aim of developing new ways to visualise and preserve the built environment and cultural heritage in digital form.

The project is part of a longer-term collaboration between MeMo and Hanaholmen, carried out in close cooperation with Hanaholmen’s Head of Culture and Arts Programmes, Aino Kostiainen. The collaboration has focused on making exhibitions and art collections more accessible through coherent digital continuations. Earlier 3D models created through this partnership are already available on Hanaholmen’s website, and the virtual anniversary exhibition further develops this work.

The measurement and modelling process was carried out in autumn 2025 by MeMo’s 3D artists. The institute has previously produced similar digital models of culturally significant sites, including the National Museum of Finland and the well-known sauna associated with the Finnish band KAJ, which competed in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest final as Sweden’s representative.

According to MeMo’s Academic Coordinator, Marika Ahlavuo, the project aligns closely with Aalto University’s strategy of integrating science and art.

‘Copyright issues often pose challenges for online productions, but in this case, agreements and permissions were resolved early on, enabling a smooth production process,’ Ahlavuo says.

At the same time, the virtual exhibition serves as a model for how culturally significant exhibitions can be preserved, shared and experienced in the future – even when their physical existence is limited in time.