Finnish president continues tradition of avoiding move-in day as Mäntyniemi residence renovation completes

Finnish president Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb will move into the newly renovated Mäntyniemi official residence next week, though the president will follow his long-standing tradition of being abroad during the move, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Speaking at a press event on Tuesday, Stubb joked that he and his wife have become well-acquainted with moving boxes, as this marks their third relocation in two years. “Unfortunately, this is a tradition we’ve had since our move to Brussels in 2009—I leave the country on moving day and return a week later,” he said.

The couple has visited the site 10–15 times during the renovation, which began in early 2024. Stubb described their first visit in March as a moment of disbelief: “We scratched our heads and wondered, what is this going to become?”

The extensive renovation of Mäntyniemi—one of three key presidential buildings, alongside the Presidential Palace and Kultaranta—was designed to preserve Finland’s cultural heritage while integrating contemporary Finnish art. The project included restoring 212 exterior corners, 300 windows of varying sizes, and 190 doors, 180 of which are unique. Stubb humorously noted that the stress of the project had visibly aged Ismo Siikaluoma, the palace’s administrative director: “His hair has gone quite grey over these two years.”

While the renovation largely respected the original 1993 interior designs by Antti Paatero, the presidential couple secured a few personal adjustments, particularly in their private quarters. “We wanted the living room to actually be a living room, not a waiting area—and that wish was heard,” Stubb said. Their greater influence was in selecting art: 14 works by contemporary Finnish artists now feature prominently, including pieces by Anna Retulainen, Osmo Rauhala, and Klaus Haapaniemi.

Stubb emphasized that Mäntyniemi, along with the other presidential residences, belongs to all Finns. “We will open these buildings to the public more frequently than before,” he promised.

The renovation is part of a broader 15-year effort to restore all three presidential properties, each representing a distinct era—Mäntyniemi as a symbol of 21st-century Finland.

Tags: finland, renovation, presidential residence