The multi-year renovation of the Saari Manor barn has begun

A major, multi-year renovation of the old stone barn at Saari Manor, maintained by Kone Foundation, is underway in Mietoinen, Mynämäki, Southwest Finland. Following a competitive tendering process, the contractor selected for the renovation of the barn building, the machinery hall, and the grain dryer located in its courtyard, is TKU-Rakennus Oy, a company operating in Southwest Finland. As a result of the extensive renovation, the residency will gain exceptionally versatile working spaces, even by international standards.

The multi-year renovation of the working facilities at Kone Foundation’s Saari Residence has progressed from the planning stage to implementation, with the first phase beginning with the refurbishment of the machinery hall. In the first phase, the machinery hall in the barnyard area will be renovated and converted into maintenance and storage facilities for the residency. Inside the externally protected building, a new separate service structure will be constructed, solar panels will be installed on its roof, and the previously unheated building will be equipped with a geothermal heating system. Renovating the machinery hall will allow the barn’s working spaces to be emptied before demolition work begins next summer.

“The alterations to the barn building and its surroundings will further diversify our residency activities. The total floor area of artists’ working spaces will more than double, and we will also gain new shared and workshop spaces. Our goal is to create an environment that supports artistic work and meaningful encounters in the best possible way,” says Leena Kela, Residency Director.

Each year, the Saari Residence hosts approximately 30 individual artists and working pairs, as well as around ten working groups, who stay at the residency from two weeks to two months. As a result of the renovation, the residency’s maintenance and storage facilities will be relocated from the barn to the machinery hall. At the same time, property maintenance and gardening tasks related to the manor’s protected buildings and environment will also move there. Centralising these functions in the machinery hall will improve the working peace of the residents and calm the barn courtyard area.

The refurbishment of the machinery hall is estimated to take approximately eight months. Partially overlapping with this, demolition of the barn’s interior spaces will also begin in the summer.

A wide range of experts involved in the renovation

The project management contractor selected for this major undertaking, TKU-Rakennus Oy, is a family-owned company based in Turku that carries out projects ranging from small repairs to large-scale renovations and new construction. On behalf of the contractor, the project is led by Construction Manager Joni Sassi, with Tuomas Vataa as Site Manager and Kalle Nieminen as Chief Site Supervisor.

The architectural design of the historically significant stone barn, built in 1858, and the surrounding buildings is led by the Danish firm Pihlmann Architects, which aims to utilise existing structures and materials as much as possible. The principal designer of the project is Sami Lehtniemi / Ark Takala, and the construction consultant is Olli Hokuni / Rakennuttajatoimisto HLC Oy.

Later in the summer, demolition work inside the barn will begin, followed by the construction of additional studios and shared spaces for encounters and collaboration.

The architectural design for the renovation of the barn building and the adjacent machinery hall and grain dryer is led by the Danish firm Pihlmann Architects. Following a competitive tendering process, the contractor selected is TKU-Rakennus Oy, based in Southwest Finland.

Other experts involved in the project include HVAC designer Antti Artamo / LVI-suunnittelu Suhde Oy; electrical designers Suvi Lapinvuo and Patrik Marjamäki / Rejlers Rakentaminen Oy; structural designer Jarno Rajakallio / Blääni Oy; acoustic designers Antti Bang and Kalle Lehtonen / Promethor Oy; fire safety designer Roope Patrikainen / Jensen Hughes Finland Oy; sprinkler designers Teemu Seppälä and Juha Mikkola / Probemen Oy; accessibility expert Atso Ahonen / Riesa Oy; and a representative of the Finnish Heritage Agency, Mikko Mannberg.

The renovation will increase working spaces at the residency

The buildings and surrounding environment of Saari Manor are protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency and the Economical Development Centre. Due to its long history, the area is classified as a culturally significant heritage site. All renovation work in the area follows conservation regulations that guide the restoration of the buildings’ exterior appearance, materials, and structures. The alterations are planned in cooperation with experts from the Finnish Heritage Agency to ensure that the estate’s unique characteristics are preserved for future generations.

The barn will be converted into working spaces suitable for various artistic disciplines, utilising dismantled materials wherever possible. As a result of the renovation, additional workspaces will be created in the barn, allowing each resident artist to have their own workspace. New shared facilities will also improve opportunities for spending time together, for example, through cooking.

The current spaces will be replaced by four visual arts studios, two performing arts studios, a media studio, and separate workshops for textiles, ceramics, and wood, among other materials. In addition, four workspaces for writers and researchers will be built in the nearby grain dryer.

One of the residential buildings will also be renovated

During 2027, one of the residency’s accommodation buildings will also be renovated. Special attention will be paid to sound insulation, and the building’s technical systems will be updated to meet current standards. Its heating system will be converted from electric to geothermal heating, after which all buildings at the manor will be heated using geothermal energy.

The renovation will affect the number of residency places available in 2027, as the building’s four apartments will be unavailable for one year.

The renovation of the barn workspaces will be completed in its entirety by the end of 2027, and the new facilities will be available to resident artists in spring 2028.