The following location is a former town hall of the municipality of Värtsilä. The birthplace of what now is the global corporation Wärtsilä, it was seriously affected by the second world war, when its most important areas had to be ceded to the Soviet union. The remaining Finnish municipality of Värtsilä was always a veryContinue reading “The Last Bits Of Independence”
Tag Archives: urban exploration
Village School Number Two
Village school number two. This one was also founded in 1926 and the current school building was constructed in 1950. It was closed in 2006. The eaves are failing, but the doors are well locked. It was starting to look like another failure. It looks like the teacher apartments are in this wing. The doorsContinue reading “Village School Number Two”
Village School Number One
For the really first time this summer I am entering uncharted territory. The previous winter I read a news article about a municipality closing all but one of their schools. This is really no news. Many small municipalities in Finland only have one school left. But this one is one of the largest municipalities inContinue reading “Village School Number One”
Two Landmarks Erased With One Plan Part II
And here we have the next endangered landmark, the Niinivaara water tower. Built in 1957, it strongly divided opinions. It was also in a very bad shape, which resulted in the need of a replacement. That replacement is currently built behind it. The old tower was demolished in the summer of 2025 when its successorContinue reading “Two Landmarks Erased With One Plan Part II”
Two Landmarks Erased With One Plan Part I
After realizing, that I had to say goodbye to the old restaurant Jokela, I next drove up the Niinivaara hill, where two more endangered landmarks were standing. The first of them is the former Juhanala school built in 1960. The school in the building was closed in 2012 and the high school in the sameContinue reading “Two Landmarks Erased With One Plan Part I”
Not Around Anymore
Another previously featured location, but not for long. This is the former restaurant, hotel and movie theater building, which had been under a demolition threat for more than 10 years despite being famous in the whole nation. The city drafted the new detail plan and the house was allowed to go. The organization owning itContinue reading “Not Around Anymore”
A Unique Location In A Sorry State
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 leftContinue reading “A Unique Location In A Sorry State”
For Sale, Yet Unwanted
Today I present you a new big catch. It is a former elementary school built in 1954. Located outside the town center the school still had around 100 pupils, when it was closed in 2010. The building was in good shape back then. They tried to sell it several times, but the highest bid wasContinue reading “For Sale, Yet Unwanted”
The Location Wasn’t Enough
I accidentally stumbled upon this little cutie while roaming the streets of a small town. Broken windows revealed, that it is abandoned. I was a little surprised by this. The place was located in the center of a small town just two blocks away from the church. Clearly it wasn’t enough. An open window. UnfortunatelyContinue reading “The Location Wasn’t Enough”
Another Endangered Beauty
This here is a former elementary school of a small, rural town. Apparently designed by architect Eino Pitkänen, who is famous for designing half of the town of Kajaani, and completed in 1949. School use ended in 2011 and all other use in 2021. The story is again familiar. The local activists want to preserveContinue reading “Another Endangered Beauty”