Patruunan pytinki
The main building, Patruunan Pytinki, will be restored and opened to the public by the 2026 season at the latest. Patruunan Pytinki will be renovated while preserving the building's history and cultural heritage. The visitor experience will be enhanced with new reception areas and a range of restaurant, meeting, and event services. This will also enable broader collaboration with other tourism service providers in the area.
The Patruunan Pytinki building, designed by Eduard Dippell, was completed in 1885 as the residence of the factory manager, Gottlieb Kreidl. The building was expanded in 1898 with a taller tower section that housed the factory office and guest rooms. The open balcony on the second floor was later enclosed. The building, which represents the Neo-Renaissance style, was repainted on the exterior to its early 20th-century appearance between 2012 and 2013. Now, the valuable building's structures are being restored, and its interior is being returned to the Neo-Renaissance spirit of the late 19th century. At the same time, the building's technical systems are being updated with fire safety and accessibility in mind.
The Verla factory museum remains open throughout the renovation. Patruunan Pytinki, which has been closed since 2007, will open to visitors by the start of the summer season in 2026 at the latest. The Kymin Osakeyhtiön 100-vuotissäätiö has supported the project with €550,000.
We will actively report on the progress of the restoration project through our social media channels.
Restoration of Patruunan Pytinki
Verla's protected gem, Patruunan Pytinki, is being restored and will be opened to visitors at Verla.
Patruunan Pytinki is located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a central part of the attraction. The building is protected by the Building Protection Act, and this protection covers its exterior, structures, room layout, and preserved fixed interior furnishings.
Restoration Project
In the restoration project, the building's structural framework will be repaired using restoration principles. The log structure of the building is largely in good condition and has not required significant log replacements. The major structural repairs focus on the foundation structures, where the clay insulation used has caused decay damage.
In addition to repairs, necessary changes will be made to the building for its future use. A restaurant kitchen will be built on the first floor in place of the old kitchen, and auxiliary and storage spaces for the kitchen will be created in the cellar below. One room on the first floor will be converted into public restroom facilities. Spaces for technical systems will be created in both the cellar and the second floor. An indoor staircase will be built at the kitchen end of the building, which will also serve as a second exit route from the second floor, where staff social areas will be located. Additionally, a service area and a fire-separated exit corridor will be built on the attic for the second-floor "tower rooms." Exterior work includes new stone stairs at the office end and a new entrance to the cellar at the kitchen end.
The interior spaces of the building will be restored to match the exterior in the Neo-Renaissance style of the late 19th century. Pink plaster will be applied to the log walls, and the walls will be wallpapered. The ceiling surfaces of the hall areas will also be plastered and painted. The old intermediate doors will be preserved and restored whenever possible, as will the old window frames and surviving ceiling moldings.
Technical Work and Equipment
The entire technical infrastructure of Pytinki will be updated, including new water pipes, sewage systems, electrical installations, ventilation, and automation systems. The building's heating pipe network will also be updated, but the heat will still come from the factory area's pellet heating plant. The building's safety systems will be updated.
To improve accessibility, an elevator will be installed from ground level to the main floor.