Stora Enso wants to replace marble cladding on main building with granite
The wood processing company Stora Enso wants to replace the marble cladding that covers its main headquarters in Helsinki with granite. The company says that the original white Carrara marble is not suitable for the climatic conditions of Finland, and that granite would be more durable.
The Enso Building was designed by the internationally- renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and was built in 1961. The original marble tiles on the exterior have deteriorated considerably over the decades, and the company would like to implement extensive repairs next year.
However, the Alvar Aalto Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the famous architect, is staunchly opposed to any alterations to the exterior of the building.
Stora Enso has commissioned a renovation plan by the architectural company Evata Finland. The firm proposes replacing the worn-out marble with American Bethel White granite, which architect K.J. Hellman says is the lightest shade of granite available.
The rectangular building, situated on the island of Katajanokka in central Helsinki, is perhaps one of the least beloved of Aalto designs, especially as it blocks much of the view of the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, when viewed from Market Square. However, any changes to the building would require special permission from the City of Helsinki.
Another Alvar Aalto creation, Helsinki's Finlandia Hall, has been the focus of a similar controversy. The building, which was completed in 1971, began to exhibit warping in its exterior marble tiles already in the 1980s.
In July 1991 safety nets were hung along the length of Finlandia Hall to protect pedestrians from falling tiles. In 1992 the Helsinki City Board decided that the marble should be replaced by a material that better withstands the northern climate.
The government officially protected Finlandia Hall in 1993, declaring that the exterior should be kept "equivalent to the original". Finally, the marble was replaced by new marble tiles at a cost of more than EUR 3 million.
Helsingin Sanomat would like to know your opinion on the issue of external cladding of key buildings, such as Finlandia Hall and the Stora Enso building. Send an e-mail to hs.kaupunki@sanoma.fi.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 16.3.2005 - TODAY |
 Stora Enso wants to replace marble cladding on main building with granite |
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