The renovation of the museum building 1997-2000

Information of the renovation of the National Museum

In 1997-2000 the National Museum of Finland underwent renovation, being the first extensive repairs to the building since it was inaugurated in 1916. The renovation was planned and designed by the architect Professor Vilhelm Helander took into account the building's original nature as an important monument of Finnish architectural history. In this connection, the necessary construction-technical repairs were carried out and the building's HVAC technology and electric wiring were renewed, to make it now provide the appropriate setting for modern museum activities.

The renovation process was marked by a shortage of funds. Accordingly, it was decided to exclude features such as the museum courtyard, fences and the former disinfecting facility in the courtyard from the work. In addition, some of the exhibition structures were left to be realized at a later date.

Aerial photo of the building of National Museum of Finland. Photo: National Board of Antiquities.

The museum building before

the renovation 1997.

Planning of repairs launched in 1993

The National Museum building was taken into use in 1916. Isolated alterations and repairs have been carried out, but no overall repairs to the building as a whole have ever been carried out during its history. In the 1980s there were plans to enlarge the museum with an underground storey and an architectural competition was held for this purpose, but the plan was abandoned for reasons of cost.

The preparations for the renovation began in 1993 with a survey of the need for repairs and of functional and activity-related objectives. The planning process was continued by drawing up a project plan for the renovation of the National Museum. Completed in 1995, this plan noted that the Museum needed an auditorium, storage space, a better cafeteria and museum shop, and technical comprehensive renovation throughout the building.

The draft plan of the project came under way in early 1996 and in December of the same year, the National Board of Antiquities the final draft plans approved the draft plans as the basis for the planning of realization. After this, the planning of the realization of the repairs began.

Church room under renovation. Photo: National Board of Antiquities.

The walls of the church room

were brushed clean and whitewashed.

Building work carried out in several contracting stages

The construction-technical work was divided into two implementation stages, with demanding work on the foundations, excavation and quarrying and the construction of the storage facility carried out as a separate contracted stage that began in August 1997. The work was completed by August 1998. During the first construction stage, the plans for the repair work were drawn up.

The repairs of the museum building began in September 1998 and were completed in late March 2000. The involved the cooperation of several contractors. The head contractor was the consortium Työyhteenliittymä Museo.

The round oak window was reconstructed.

It was installed by its maker, Harri Marjamaa.

Repairs and improvements of the exterior

Designed by Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen, the National Museum of Finland is one of Helsinki's most significant buildings in terms of architecture and cultural history, and one of the main works of so-called national romantic architecture in Finland. The granite and steatite-faced and partly rendered façades and the building's high copper and slate covered roofs are its architecturally most finished and best preserved parts.

Work began with repairs to the roof. The walls of natural stone were washed and partly repointed. All the windows made of old oak were washed and stain-varnished. The rendered façades were partly repaired and repainted throughout. However, no integral changes were made to the exterior.

The most important renovation measure was the painting of the rendered parts of the façades in a light, broken umber hue. The surfaces that had been re-rendered mostly in the 1970s with mortar coloured throughout were very soled and dark. The hue that was now chosen is an interpretation of the original colour of the outer walls. It complements the natural stone surfaces that dominate the building and it is particularly adapted to the steatite ornaments associated with the rendered areas.

Museon tornin graniittijulkisivut puhdistettiin ja saumattiin.

The granite facades the tower

were cleaned and re-seamed.

Alterations serving function in the interior

The operation of the National Museum as a living museum serving the public and capable of renewal called for a few changes to the interior. The functioning exhibition rooms called for larger lobby, auditorium and cafeteria space than had been available before. The museum's service access and working space for staff were rearranged. The invaluable exhibits and collections also required improved protection. As a result, extensive improvements to the ventilation facilities were carried. The alterations were done within the bounds set by the old building. The only additional structure is a storage facility and fall-out shelter constructed under the yard in the first stage of the work.

Infokeskuksen ja seminaaritilan kattoon ruiskutettiin puuvillapohjainen akustointimassa.

A cotton-based acoustic lining compound

was sprayed onto the ceiling of the information centre and the seminar room.

The rooms of the permanent exhibition in their former state
The most important and most extensively finished interior areas of the museum building are located around the central hall and the southern inner courtyard, also known as the "Castle Yard". These rooms for the exhibits of the historical collection were originally planned to have the collections of the various periods placed in specially designed rooms reflecting the specific nature of the respective eras: the prehistoric collections are in the vaulted rooms, medieval ecclesiastical art in the so-called church room, the weapon collections in the round tower etc. In this configuration the rooms are of special value as an example of museum architecture. With the exception minor necessary changes, the rooms have been preserved in their original state. The frescoes painted by Akseli Gallen-Kallela on the vaults of the central hall in 1928 and the stained-glass paintings prepared by Eric O. W. Ehrström for the main staircase in 1925 underwent conservation measures. New access to the ground floor and its new rooms for the public was opened next to the central hall, partly utilizing the old staircase. The old lift was altered to provide public access also to the lobby space on the second floor. The small room next to the cloakroom, which most recently had served as a cafeteria will be converted into a museum shop. The second-floor space originally serving as a library and auditorium was converted into the museum's information centre. Except for the ground floor, the exhibition rooms around the northern inner courtyard, the former "Firewood Yard", were preserved as series of rooms that can be flexibly converted. The reopened windows of the exhibition room on the third floor offer an excellent view of the city. The room can be used for special exhibitions.	In the repairs of the exhibition rooms, new doorways and openings were made and former openings were walled up. Access to the new public areas of the ground floor was arranged by altering the old staircase. The renovated exhibition room of the third floor.
New areas for the public on the ground floor
The biggest changes to the facilities for the public were carried out on the ground floor, or basement level, beneath the central hall and its auxiliary space next to the north courtyard. A new entrance for the public was opened on side of the outer staircase near the main entrance. The new entrance facilitates entry for disabled persons, while also permitting various functions to be arranged on the ground floor while the rest of the museum is closed. A lobby, a cloakroom and washrooms for the public were constructed in the location of former staff restrooms and storage facilities. A room for the use of groups was constructed next to the entrance. The new auditorium was built adjacent to the courtyard by combining three former exhibition rooms and by deepening the space to give the floor a slant. The auditorium now has 210 seats, and capacity can be raised with extra seating. During breaks, the audience can move into the courtyard. The seats were designed by Jouko Järvisalo and made by the Model company. Adjoining the courtyard next to the auditorium is the museum's new cafeteria seating almost 50 customers. The cafeteria is in the location of the former woodworking shop. During the summer months, the cafeteria can expand into the courtyard or the garden. Next to the cafeteria, beneath the central hall, is a new 150-square-metre room for temporary exhibition.	The roof of the future cafeteria was painted with oil-based paint. Only the furniture needs to be installed in the museum's new auditorium.
Renewed working space and service access
The working space on the west side of the inner north courtyard was renovated. In this connection a new service elevator was installed with access to the working space and office rooms and to some of the exhibition areas. On the ground floor, the lift has access to the reception, shipping and packaging area. New restrooms and facilities for the surveillance staff and the museum kitchen were also constructed on the ground floor. Technical and storage facilities were enlarged under the inner north courtyard, with access to them also from the new auditorium whereby they can also serve as storage space for furniture. A new basement storey was enlarged under the formerly unplanted area of the large outer courtyard. It contains storage space for the collections and a fall-out shelter.	New space and facilities for the public were obtained on the ground floor by dismantling the old rooms.
The demanding work of renewing ventilation and electrical equipment
Protecting the valuable exhibits and collections, new exhibition design and organization and the comfort of the public required the extensive renewal of ventilation and electrical equipment in the National Museum. The creation of sufficient conditions for the preservation of objects was the prime starting point of the new ventilation system. Accordingly, the exhibition space was divided into separately functioning ventilation areas. This arrangement called for new automatically opening and closing doors on the routes used by the public when visiting the museum. The construction and installing of the necessary ventilation ducts and electrical wiring routes in the old rooms and halls of the National Museum was demanding work in which it was necessary first to dismantle structures and then rebuild and repair them. The routes are adapted individually to the various rooms in a manner requiring as little damage as possible. The main routes are concentrated in locations that in any case had to be rebuilt in the reorganization of space. It was difficult to find suitable solutions in the old exhibition rooms of intact shape. The building has concrete intermediate floors employing so-called double slab construction. Part of these floors contained space for the ducts without the need to make any integral alterations to the shape of the rooms. All the old light fittings and fixtures of the main rooms and halls were repaired. Light fixture tracks serving different exhibition lighting needs were installed in the exhibition rooms. The light fixtures of the renovated areas for the public were chosen from among standard models. New ceiling lights of simple, unadorned appearance were designed for the auditorium.	The former balcony of the second floor was converted into a heated space included in tour of the exhibits.
Partners and associates of the renovation project
Developer : Department of Monuments and Sites of the National Board of Antiquities Construction manager Kari Nikkanen Architect Erkki Mäkiö User: The Finnish National Museum, National Board of Antiquities Head of Department Ritva Wäre Senior Keeper Pekka Sarvas Building management : Head of facilities Anita Hyvärinen Consultants : Development/ Engel Development Services Project Director Juha Lemström Project Manager Arto Palo Project Manager Tapio Jalo Project Manager Timo Väihinpää Supervisor Kimmo Almgren Architectural design: Vilhelm Helander, Juha Leiviskä, architects SAFA (Finnish Association of Architects) Architect, Professor Vilhelm Helander Architect Tytti Valto Construction design: Magnus Malmberg Engineers Foundation structure design: Geo Juva Oy HVAC and electrical design: Projectus Team Oy Contractors : Main contracting of the first phase/ Polar - Rakennus Oy Main contracting of the second phase / Consortium Työyhteenliittymä Museo Façade work / Rakennus Oy Paanurakenne Vesijohtoliike Halmesvaara Oy ST-ilmastointi Oy TAP-Yhtiöt Oy Atmostech Oy	The foundation stone of the National Museum was laid on June 18, 1906. Senator Leo Mechelin delivered a speech at the ceremony. Photo: National Board of Antiquities.