Prime minister’s Kesäranta residence opens to public

Finland’s prime ministerial residence, Kesäranta in Helsinki, opened its doors to the public on Saturday, with visitors beginning to queue shortly after 7am, Yle reports.

Henrik Rantakokko, from Helsinki, was not particularly impressed by the residence or its grounds. His slightly older brother, Patrik Rantakokko, had a different view.

“A really beautiful place and quite a large yard,” he said.

Patrik was already familiar with the location, having kayaked past it at sea.

Many adult visitors admired the historic interior. Sanna Kokkonen, who travelled from Järvenpää, said she particularly liked it. Leeni Tuunainen, from Helsinki, said the house looked smaller in person than it had appeared on television.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo greeted and shook hands with visitors at the entrance. Guides inside told visitors about the history of the residence.

Kesäranta, also known as Villa Bjälbo, was built in 1873 in Meilahti, Helsinki. It was initially owned by architect Frans Ludvig Calonius.

The building served as the prime minister’s summer residence from 1922 to 1952 and has been the official residence since 1952. Before then, the prime minister also had another residence in central Helsinki, but that arrangement was discontinued.

The grounds include a fishing hut with a direct view of Mäntyniemi, the president’s official residence. Former Prime Minister Urho Kekkonen had a sauna built there, while former Prime Minister Sanna Marin had an exercise area built on the grounds.

The garden also has a gazebo, and a sandbox and swing dating from the periods of former prime ministers Jyrki Katainen and Paavo Lipponen. A tennis court has been part of the grounds from the beginning, as tennis courts were customary in the 1920s.

Kesäranta had previously been opened to the public only during the Night of the Arts in 2013, when a concert was held there.