Espoo building authorities to inspect Big Brother house

Studio for reality show built without permit

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Building inspectors are to examine the television studio known as the "Big Brother House", where the Finnish version of the reality show Big Brother is shot.
      The proprietors have not applied for a building permit for the new structures of the facility. The building housing the studio is zoned as a storage area, which is not to be used as a residence.
      Under the law, a permit is needed for all construction involving changes to plumbing, for instance.
     
The newspaper Ilta-Sanomat wrote about the lack of permits on Tuesday. The matter came as a surprise to Veronica Rehn-Kivi, head of building supervision for the City of Espoo.
      “I didn’t even know that the house was in Espoo”, she says to Helsingin Sanomat.
      Rehn-Kivi noted in Ilta-Sanomat that generally the construction of a new bathroom requires a permit.
      On Tuesday she discussed the matter with the programme’s producer Mikko Räisänen.
      “We agreed that we would look at the location, and conduct a supervisory inspection.”
     
The studio was built inside an old industrial assembly hall. It includes the living space of the people taking part in the programme, as well as an area for outdoor recreation, and an audience studio.
      Räisänen said in Ilta-Sanomat that the structures are temporary studio props, which do not require building permits.
      However, the Big Brother studio has been in the same location for several years, and residents have spent periods of time of up to three months in the studio.
      Big Brother has been produced in the same facility in the Kivenlahti district of Espoo since 2005.
      Rehn-Kivi says that it is unlikely that there would be any need to tear down the structures. If the structures meet regulations, it is possible to apply for a permit after the fact.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Big Brother contestant Mika fined for sexual abuse (17.10.2007)
  COMMENTARY: Ordinary people? (6.9.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat