New residents have recently moved into the historically restored engineering house by Apulanta Oy in Tampere, Finland.

The historic engineering house in Niemenranta, Tampere, brought to life by Apulanta Oy, has new residents. The restoration project, led by Apulanta's drummer Sipe Santapuk and project manager Allu Kämp, is a unique combination of the history of an old valuable building and the demands of modern living.

The power of natural materials

Wood has played a central role in the restoration project, and has been used judiciously in the interior for a variety of purposes. Sipe Santapukki emphasises the natural warmth and durability of wood. "Wood is unique as a material because it breathes and ages gracefully. The materials used were important to us to match the original spirit of the house and to be long-lasting."

The interior design has allowed the construction team to be creative and develop different solutions for surface materials. The wide range of KINOS lists available from Siparila made the project easier. "These same mouldings can be used as both skirting and cover mouldings, bringing visual harmony to the spaces and making it easier to manage materials on site," Santapukki adds. The real wood mouldings on doorways and wall/floor interfaces emphasise the dignity and historicity of the space.

Cooperation with Siparila: Fostering quality and tradition

In the Tampere restoration project, it has been of paramount importance to respect the architectural features of the engineering house. Allu Kämppi, who is responsible for the practical implementation and management of the project, emphasises the importance of Siparila products in the restoration of the building. "Siparila's products are perfectly suited to the needs of the restoration project. The mouldings are of high quality and respect the original appearance of the building. This was particularly important for us, as we wanted to preserve as much as possible of the original atmosphere of the building." says Kämppi.

Santapukki for his part, highlights the philosophy behind the choice of materials: "A building project is like making music. It's like building a musical project. All the parts have to be chosen carefully, and the whole has to work harmoniously. Siparila's products, such as the KINOS ceiling panels, have proved to be the right choice for this project."

The balance of new and old

The height of the Tampere Engineering House and the original architecture of the building have guided the choice of materials. "The height of the spaces allowed the use of wide mouldings and special profiles that add to the dignity of the space. Design is not my strongest area, but we have learned to identify what works best in such a historic setting," Santapukki sums up.

"One of the biggest challenges of the restoration has been to find a balance between the original architecture and modern requirements. With Siparila's products we have been able to preserve the original spirit of the building, while ensuring its durability and functionality now and in the future." Kämppi adds.

Focus on durabiity and sustainability

Santapukki and Kämppi stress that the project has been designed and implemented with sustainability and environmental friendliness in mind. "We wanted to use domestic materials with the lowest possible environmental impact. The EPDs for Siparila's products made it easier to assess the environmental impact," Santapukki says.

"Localism is an important part of the project. The restoration of the building is a local effort, and we aim for it to benefit the local economy. It was wonderful to be able to use products made in Finland for the restoration of the engineering house and to support Finnish work," says Kämppi.

Apulanta Oy's future plans

When asked about future projects, Santapukki and Kämppi agree that cooperation with Siparila will continue. "This project has shown us how important it is to choose the right partners. When everything works seamlessly, there is no reason to change a working concept. Sustainability, quality and visual appeal are key," Santapukki concludes.

Kämppi concludes, "The Tampere project has been an important learning experience for all of us. We have managed to combine the old and the new in the best possible way. This gives us confidence that there will be more and more projects like this in the future, and we want to be involved in preserving our Finnish cultural heritage."

The Tampere Engineering House restoration project is a great example of how historic buildings can be renovated to meet the needs of modern living. Apulanta Oy and Siparila will continue their efforts to ensure that historic properties are preserved and can flourish in the future.