Apulanta Oy to save a historic engineering house in Tampere

Apulanta, one of Finland's best-known rock bands, is also saving old properties. The band's drummer, Sipe Santapukki, is known not only for his musical career but also for his active role in these restoration projects.The valuable property, originally built as a factory engineering house in Niemenranta, Tampere, is the latest addition to Apulanta Oy's portfolio. Santapukki tells the story of the property's rich history, from factory farms and animal farms to a clubhouse.

"The building is one of the first in Niemenranta and served the factory for a long time. It has subsequently fallen into disrepair and gone through many owners," Santapukki sheds light on. The property was eventually taken over by the state and sold at auction, where Santapukki and his company Apulanta Oy managed to win the bid.

Santapukki, who knows Tampere well, had been following the situation of the property for a long time. "It was a pity when it first went wrong. But we finally managed to buy it and started an extensive restoration project," he says happily.

The project has required a lot of work, as the building had fallen into a bad state. "It is a shame that such an important building had been allowed to deteriorate. Fortunately, we have now got it back in good shape," says Santapukki proudly.

The property was designed by Birger Federley, a locally renowned architect, which adds to its cultural and historical value. Santapukki and his team will continue to work to restore the building to its former glory and preserve it for future generations.

Apulanta selected Siparila products for Tampere restoration project

Sipe Santapuk and his team's commitment to quality and domesticity is also reflected in the choices they make in building materials. For the Niemenranta project in Tampere, they have chosen to use Siparila products, which are renowned for their high quality and domestic manufacturing. Santapukki emphasises that "you can't use just anything in renovation, you need the best quality and preferably from nearby."

The project has restored old decorations and façades, but also replaced defective structures. "The original mouldings have not been preserved everywhere, or have been in too bad a condition. Siparila found suitable profiles that respect the historic look of the building," says Santapukki .

Cooperation with Siparila has been excellent. "Deliveries arrive on time and in the right quantities, which is vital in construction projects," he says. This seamless cooperation has helped the project to progress smoothly, avoiding delays and cost increases.

Santapukki considers it particularly important that the materials used are compatible with the historic value of the property. The quality and design of Siparila's products support this objective. "They are not basic ironmongery mouldings, but special profiles that meet the requirements of the era," he stresses.

Sustainability and environmental friendliness are also key criteria in material selection. "It is important that the materials are domestic and that their environmental impact is minimised. This localism is similar to food - even if it's not organic, local production is the most environmentally sustainable solution," Santapukki says.

Visuals and details with Siparila products in this project

Visuals and details are key elements of the project. Sipe Santapukki explains how the height of the space determined the use of wide mouldings and the choice of special profiles. "Design is not my field, but experience has taught me to recognise what fits into a historic environment. Exclusivity and product quality are key," Santapukki explains.

When it comes to future projects and the use of Siparila products, Santapukki is convinced. "The experience of this project has shown that when everything is going well, there is no reason to change a working concept. It's sustainability and quality that count," he says.

Personally, Santapukki is particularly impressed with Siparila's silver panel and the special wood panels he has used in his own home. "With a simple solution, we've created stunning effects. Even professionals have praised these choices," he says.

Finally, when asked who he would recommend Siparila to, the answer is clear: "Anyone who is renovating or building new. There's no project that doesn't need quality mouldings, effect walls or exterior or interior cladding made of Finnish wood at some point."

This project in Tampere shows how carefully chosen details and the right partners can revitalise and respect a historic building, while bringing modern quality and sustainability. The work of Santapuk and his team continues, and their passion for saving old buildings remains as strong as their commitment to quality and respect for the environment.

Siparila products:

KINOS-base / coverboard-/base / coverboard: https://www.siparila.com/tuote/kinos - base / coverboard- base / coverboard/

SOLA interior design panel: https://www.siparila.com/tuote/sola-sisustuspaneeli/