Renovation of the Old Stone Barn at Saari Manor Brings Changes to Saari Residence’s Operations  

In 2026, Saari Residence will begin a multi-year renovation project. Saari Manor’s stone barn, which serves as a workspace for artists, will undergo restoration to better meet the needs of the residents. At the same time, the building’s technical systems will be updated. 

The renovation will impact the available residency spots for 2026. 

In the summer of 2026, a major renovation project lasting several years will begin on Saari Manor’s old stone barn. During this time, the artists’ workspaces in the barn will not be available. Consequently, no group residencies will be offered at Saari Residence in 2026. Additionally, in the autumn of 2026, artists will work in the studios located within the residency apartments. Saari Residence will not be able to offer alternative workspaces during the renovation. Due to the construction work, minor noise disturbances may also occur on weekdays. 

The barn building currently houses a dance studio, workspaces for visual artists, and a workshop, among other facilities. The upcoming renovation will restore the large stone barn in accordance with Kone Foundation’s long-term maintenance plan (LTMP). The barn will be redesigned to include more workspaces than at present. Furthermore, a nearby grain dryer building will be converted into workspaces suitable for literary work. 

Saari Manor’s stone barn was built in 1858 during Aleksander Aminoff’s ownership to house 100 cows. When Kone Foundation purchased the Saari Manor property in 2006, the former laboratory facilities of the Agricultural Research Centre, located in the barn, underwent only minor surface-level renovations. Over the years, the spaces have been modified, and the old stone walls have been restrored. 

The barn renovation will begin with the relocation of maintenance facilities to the manor’s machinery hall building, after which the interior demolition will start. The renovation aims to enhance the barn’s functionality and create workspaces suitable for various artistic disciplines while respecting the manor’s conservation status. Special emphasis will also be given to the building’s sound insulation and accessibility. Safety and health aspects will be prioritised, particularly regarding materials and the planned workshop. 

The new shared spaces available to residency artists will provide greater opportunities for collaboration and interaction. The maintenance facilities currently located in the old barn will be moved to the machine hall building, improving the working environment in the barn and freeing up more space for research and artistic work. 

On January 31, Kone Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved a draft renovation plan designed by the Danish architects office Pihlmann Architects. Architects office Ark Takala and the construction management company Rakennuttajatoimisto HLC Oy from Turku will oversee the project’s implementation in Finland. Additionally, accessibility consultant Atso Ahonen from Riesa Consultative Oy is advising on accessibility plans for the barn. 

Sustainable Restoration of a Historically Significant Site 

Located in Mietoinen, Mynämäki, Saari Residence, maintained by Kone Foundation, and its surrounding area are protected as an archaeological heritage site and a nationally significant cultural environment. Furthermore, according to the spring 2024 decision of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), Saari Manor’s buildings and green areas are covered under the Act on the Protection of Built Heritage. The residency includes 18 historic buildings, all systematically maintained and restored. Ensuring that all manor buildings are renovated and maintained according to traditional restoration and sustainability principles is a priority for Kone Foundation. The Foundation is committed to maintaining the site and its buildings in line with recommendations from the Finnish Heritage Agency and the ELY Centre. 

The renovation will preserve the character of the building and its surroundings while honouring its historical features. According to the Act on the Protection of Built Heritage, the plans aim “to ensure the temporal and regional diversity of the built cultural environment, preserve its character and distinctive features, and promote its culturally sustainable care and use.” Sustainable and as carbon-neutral as possible construction and renovation are also part of the ecological approach of Saari Residence’s operations and its EcoCompass certification. 

Pihlmann Architects, responsible for the barn renovation plans, prioritises the reuse of materials from demolished structures and promotes sustainable architecture in its projects.