Completed in 1908, Paasitorni is one of Finland’s most magnificent stone edifices, with the stones of its granite facade excavated on site. At the end of 2023, the building will undergo extensive external renovation. The original stones of the building’s tower and its adjacent facade will be removed, cleaned and reinstalled. The appearance of the tower will remain unchanged, but ventilation pipelines are going to be added to the structures below.
The history of the imposing granite palace
Originally, Paasitorni was supposed to look completely different. However, the activists of the Helsinki Workers’ Association behind project realized that the stones needed for the facade could be sourced on site.
Ultimately, the amount of stone excavated exceeded the need and much of it was stored after the building’s completion in 1908. Later in the 1920s, a new extension to the building was clad with these surplus stones.
Stones are (almost) forever
In the current renovation of the tower’s facade, some of the original stones will be removed, numbered, cleaned and reinstalled. Some of the stones damaged by the 1918 fire will have to be replaced. The appearance of the tower will remain unchanged; only the structures beneath will be renewed in places and the ventilation of the facade will be improved.
The renovation of the tower’s stones ensures the preservation of the Paasitorni landmark in its original state for future generations.
The buildings activities will continue without interruption
The facade renovation of the tower will be carried out in stages. The work will begin on 18 December 2023 and will last a year. During this time, all the activities and events at the Paasitorni will continue as normal.
The renovation of the facade of the tower will be carried out by top experts specializing in stone construction and granite facades, and their merits include, for example, renovation of the facades of the National Museum of Finland, Helsinki Railway Station, Kallio Church and Tampere Cathedral.
Becoming a world heritage site
Paasitorni is part of a project where seven unique buildings created as workers’ assembly halls all over the world are applying to make it to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The participating cities in the project are Melbourne (1859), Copenhagen (1879), Broken Hill (1905), Helsinki (1908), Ghent (1913), Durham (1915) and Buenos Aires (1950).
Watch the video The Story of the Stones of Paasitorni
Further information:
Osku Pajamäki, CEO, Paasitorni / Helsinki Workers’ Association, osku.pajamaki@paasitorni.fi, +358 50 5555245
Contractor: Jouni Soramäki, Supervisor, IKJ Rakennus Oy, jouni.soramaki@ikjrakennus.fi, +358 400 415 044