Seurasaari Building Conservation
The restoration division of the Finnish Heritage Agency is responsible for taking care of the buildings of the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum. The conservation and maintenance work of the museum buildings aims at securing the well-being of the collection and preserving the various values of the site, such as the regional architectural history characteristics and the original materials used to build the site.
Traditional construction by utilising new technology
The building conservation working group works with the Seurasaari museum buildings all year long. It keeps its base at the Seurasaari Building Conservation Centre. The documented data found from the archives and the extensive knowledge on both the rural building techniques and comprehensive principles on preserving a building collection form the basis for the maintenance measures of museum buildings. Conservation measures are not always visible, but their aim is to prevent damage from happening. Nearly all of the 90 buildings in the open-air museum are constructed out of wood. The aim is to preserve and fix them by using similar work methods and materials as in the original structures. The aim is also to maintain the traditional wood construction expertise which also includes mastering the old work methods and knowledge about the materials. Many of these skills and knowledge are also useful in modern construction.
In addition to traditions, the workers also utilise modern tools and technology in their work. When conserving the interiors, the aim is to preserve the paint and wallpaper layers of the interior surfaces by using gentle methods. Laboratory technology is utilised in the pigment analysis of colours and material research. When studying the history of a building, it is possible to define the accurate age of a log used in a building by performing e.g. dendrochronological analyses. Additionally, laser scanning technology can be used to monitor and measure the deterioration degree of the buildings. The restoration division also orders services and materials related to the field from private operators or educational institutions.
The condition of the buildings is constantly monitored and maintenance works, such as cleaning and tarring of roofs, slow down the deterioration of materials. Thus, preventive measures play a key role in the maintenance of the museum building collection. In addition to the museum building itself, various threats in its immediate surroundings must also be taken into consideration when planning and implementing good collection maintenance. All measures targeted at museum buildings are documented and reports written on conservation projects are archived. The reports are available via the Cultural environment service window at the cultural environment study reports’ section.
