Nordic wooden construction experts gather in Turku to discuss preservation of historical wooden towns

Eija Kaasinen rocks her eight-month-old daughter, Elsi Ristola, in the wooden housing area of Portsa, located near the center of Turku. One of the best aspects of living there is the sense of community. “Everyone looks after each other, which provides a feeling of safety. That’s quite rare nowadays,” she says, noting the need to get used to some imperfections in their homes.

On the other side of the yard resides Niko Ryytty, who moved from Helsinki’s Taka-Töölö to Portsa two years ago. “The wooden house has its own atmosphere. The building lives with us. It’s really nice,” he shares.

Last weekend, Nordic wooden construction experts gathered in Turku to discuss the preservation of wooden towns. The first conference on this subject was held in Norway in 1972. Organizers note that the early years saw much of the remaining Nordic wooden towns and neighborhoods in larger cities being protected. Panu Savolainen, an associate professor at Aalto University, reflects that the movement to protect wooden towns is more prevalent today than it was in the 1960s, when few experts defended them.

Despite progress, challenges remain. In Turku, the Österblad plot in the city center has been awaiting clarity about its future for years. Savolainen emphasizes the need to preserve historical wooden buildings, especially since they are so scarce. In nearby Uusikaupunki, city architect Leena Arvela-Hellén acknowledges that these buildings rely heavily on the voluntary efforts of their owners for preservation, recognizing their value in local tourism.

The discussions also touched on the tension between preservation and the push for new, larger developments in rapidly urbanizing areas of Turku, amidst growing population demands.