More than a restaurant – Understanding the perception of immigrant owned businesses through the lenses of aesthetic justice and multiculturalism.

Abstract

The thesis investigates the perception of immigrant owned restaurants in the east of Helsinki through the lens of the food they serve and the aesthetics of the space. The goal of the study is to provide an opportunity to the readers to inform themselves about immigrant owned spaces and justify existing connections between aesthetics of restaurants, multiculturalism and urban planning.

Based on the current body of literature, there is a very evident problem area identified which documents the “lack of multiculturalism” in the urban planning of the east of Helsinki. The thesis particularly touches upon Itäkeskus which is also home to Finland’s oldest mall called Puhos. Puhos, which is predominantly occupied by immigrant owned businesses, has been exposed to the idea of a redevelopment project which proposes to demolish a part of the mall and make space for residential premises and business spaces. While there are large bodies of research that document the pressing issue and critique the current decisions from an urban planning point of view, there is almost no documentation about the qualitative nuances of the aesthetics of these restaurants and their relation to economic attributes. Additionally, there is no documented relationship existing between these qualitative aspects and their relation to multiculturalism.

Through an ethnographic and qualitative approach, the thesis connects theoretical concepts about the value of aesthetics in urban planning, multiculturalism and building a sense of place for immigrant communities with empirical data that is gathered through semi structured interviews, visual research and participant observation.

In the context of aesthetics, the theory touches upon the definition of aesthetics beyond its literal sense. It highlights the egalitarian qualities of aesthetics while relating it to concepts of justice and welfare. It dives into stories, objects, signages, menus, decor, furniture and other tangible items that hold meaning beyond its functional need to run a restaurant. It connects these decisions back to the emotions and the financial capability of a restaurant owner to run their own business in a system which has economically limited them. These objects in turn also connect back to traits and symbols of multiculturalism which are built by immigrants in their pursuit to make a new home for themselves in a new country. Lastly, it builds on the idea of making a “sense of place” for owners and customers where restaurants become more than just a space to eat. They act as community hubs for people to linger, bond and reconnect with each other. The thesis ends with suggestions which could be taken into consideration while co-designing a community hub that retains aesthetic welfare over its mere aesthetic value.