Here I am standing on the gates of yet another school.
It was designed by architect Martti Heikura, one of my personal favorites, and built in the early 1950’s.
The municipality of Haukipudas was merged with the city of Oulu back in 2013. One of the last things they did as an independent municipality was to build a new school.
The school was completed in 2013 and the old school was used as temporary premises for pupils from schools under renovations until 2016. It has been abandoned ever since.
The work of art in front of the school was made in co-operation between an artist and the pupils of the school, by the way.
Local activists tried to get protection status to the school. They wanted to have it for hosting events and hobbies. The city declined. They wanted to demolish it. The battle has been going on for years and it is starting to look like the school is the loser here.
I find this especially disturbing because of the architect. Martti Heikura was the first city architect of Oulu, which was rebuilt following the second world war. There are a lot of buildings from that era and basically Martti Heikura and colleague Uki Heikkinen are responsible for what today’s Oulu looks like.
Sadly enough the city doesn’t much appreciate this. Several of Heikura’s buildings have been demolished and several are under demolition threat. This building is regarded as regionally important, yet it wasn’t protected.
Wait a second. The clocks have stopped in different times.
I did a walk around the school trying to find an entrance, but it started to look bad. I desperately wanted to get inside before one of the works of my favorite architecs would be destroyed.
But as there was no entrance, you will have to do with external shots.
If that wing to the left doesn’t contain the gym, I’d be surprised.
The school has been enlarged in the 1980’s. This wing isn’t a part of the original building. The architects have done such a good job, that it looks like it’s always been there.
No point of entry here, either.
I’ve said multiple times that I love the simplistic 1950’s architecture. I can’t say it too many times.
Is it just me, or do all the clocks display a different time?
Another look at the 1980’s wing.
The teachers’ apartments were in a separate building. The building still serves as apartments and is alive and well.
So I’ve gone around the entire school without managing to find a point of entry.
I wasn’t ready to give up yet, though.