I am once again going to reveal a thing about myself. I am very networked. There are very few places in Finland, from which I don’t know people. The people I know, are very good hearted, and often help me out during my trips by providing accommodation or bathrooms.
One of my biggest supporters is the family of one of my former teachers. They have accommodated me in several places and sometimes even offered me a stay at their relative’s place.
That very morning I was looking for a shower on Instagram. And so it was, that they offered me one at their community garden cottage.
Not only that, they had prepared a small supper. They asked me about my upcoming plans, and when I told them, that I would go and look at a couple of locations in the area and then sleep in my car, they offered me their guest room.
It’s a bit difficult for me to accept good deeds. But I did accept it this time and went exploring.
This here is a part of a pulp mill complex opened in 1914 and finally closed for good in 2008. In 2014 the city bought it and started redeveloping the area. The plan is, that the factory and its surroundings will be preserved. Well, yet I am here documenting it.
The factory contained buildings from several different eras.
One of the newest buildings had clearly become a legal graffiti wall with some spectacular murals.
Painting was really a thing here.
One of the older buildings in the area.
Almost every single wall on the area had been painted.
I found no access inside, but could hear people move around in the factory.
The Die Hard was a theatre performance back in 2017.
The entire factory was in the same state that it was in when it was closed except for the power station. The newer parts of it were demolished back in 2019.
That was when an accident happened and a part of the preserved old 1910’s power station collapsed. It is under the tent seen next to the chimney.
This area was closed from the public.
The reason: danger of collapse.
This was where the theatre performance was held.
And that probably was the entrance.
It seems that there were other people in the area.
The buildings were connected with all sorts of bridges.
Even the legendary Finnish president Urho Kekkonen has found his way here.
Moving on to the other side of the complex trying to get it to fit in one picture.
It wasn’t the easiest of tasks. A tramline was being built here.
In this photo the covered power station is well visible.
And here even better. The area is going to undergo a massive redevelopment, but the factory should stay.