If you’ve read this blog for long enough, you already recognize what this is about.
Yes, it’s a former co-operative store in a functionalistic style, designed by legendary architect Erkki Huttunen, who designed numerous similar buildings around the country. But there is one thing, which makes this location special.
The wooden building to the left is the original store from 1925. They were built around the country, when the ideology of co-operatives started spreading around the country. And it was very common in many places, that an extension designed by Huttunen was built next to the original building in the 1930’s and 1940’s. This one was completed in 1937.
What happened in the 1960’s was, that often the old wooden building was demolished to make way for a modern store. That happened for instance in here and here. I believe, that this is the only location in Finland, where the wooden and functionalistic business buildings still stand next to eachother.
Unfortunately the place is owned by a local businessman, who has neglected it for years. According to detail planning documents, the buildings have been without heating for more than 20 years. In 2010 they were inspected, and their use was forbidden due to water damage and microbes. They are irrepairable. They are collapsing to the street, and the town has ordered them to be demolished several times.
The same businessman owns another location, which I have visited previously. To better protect this location, I won’t tell you, where it is.
This is a shame. A horrible shame.
The fences are there, because pieces of the facade are falling to the street.
The 1925 built wooden part. It has been out of use since 2010, but the antique store which used to be there, looks like it could be open any day.
The smell of mold was so awful, that all of these items must be destroyed by now.
Moving to the back. Everything seems well closed.
The back of the functionalistic part with the loading dock. The place was damp and in a very bad condition.
No point of entry. I am so sad for this place.