Professor seeks to save derelict hospital from demolition

Emeritus professor Juha Pyrhönen is seeking to have the former Tiuru hospital in Lappeenranta added to Europa Nostra’s list of Europe’s most endangered cultural heritage sites, Yle reports.

The recognition would bring publicity and expert assistance and could potentially open new funding channels, but it would not guarantee that the building is preserved.

The large and striking building on the shore of Lake Saimaa has stood empty for 14 years and has been damaged by vandalism. Its condition has made it dangerous.

Seniori-Saimaa, a company jointly owned by the City of Lappeenranta and tourism company Holiday Club Resorts, wants to demolish the building. The company has not changed its position despite Pyrhönen’s initiative.

Pyrhönen said he did not want to be the first to give up on the building.

“I have this foolishly romantic idea that something can still be done,” he said.

The former hospital was completed in 1939 and initially operated as a tuberculosis sanatorium. Its renovation would cost tens of millions of euros.

Pyrhönen, an emeritus professor at LUT University, is preparing the application to Europa Nostra on his own. The organisation selects seven endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe for its programme each year.

The programme does not provide direct funding to the sites it selects. Instead, it offers publicity and expert assistance, which may help them find other sources of funding.

Pyrhönen has a personal connection

Pyrhönen’s father worked at the hospital, and Pyrhönen spent time there as a child and organised activities for patients.

He describes Tiuruniemi as one of the finest places in southern Finland and considers the building a potential tourist attraction in the Lake Saimaa region. In his view, it could be converted into a hotel if a suitable international operator could be found to take over the project.

“I am just an electrical engineer who started dreaming about saving Tiuru for fun,” Pyrhönen said. “There is not much harm in slowing down the enthusiasm for demolition a little.”

Architect’s work described as exceptional

The massive building was designed by architect Jalmari Lankinen. Architect Tapani Mustonen, who is a member of Europa Nostra’s board, said the Tiuru sanatorium represents the very best of Lankinen’s work.

Much of Lankinen’s work was concentrated in Vyborg and areas beyond the border, making the former hospital in Finland a rarity, Mustonen said. He considers its chances of being selected for the Europa Nostra programme to be good.

The listing would not ensure the building’s survival. Malmi Airport in Helsinki has previously been included in the programme, but housing construction has since begun on the airport grounds despite efforts to preserve its aviation use.

The City of Lappeenranta is Seniori-Saimaa’s largest owner. City manager Tuomo Sallinen said the city’s goal remains demolition, even though an application to Europa Nostra is being prepared.

The matter is currently on hold because an appeal has been filed with the administrative court against the zoning plan that would allow the demolition.