The owner’s residence of the Verla World Heritage Site will be restored and the restored building will open to the public by 2026 at the latest
The owner’s residence of the Verla groundwood and board mill will be restored and then opened to the public. Owned and operated by UPM, Verla is one of Finland's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites."The owners residence will be restored to preserve the history and heritage of the building. We will improve the customer experience for museum visitors with new reception facilities and more versatile venue for restaurant, meetings, and festivities.
The project will also enable us to collaborate more extensively with other tourism service providers in the region," says Ville Majuri, Director, Verla Museum and World Heritage Site.
The owner’s residence, designed by Eduard Dippell, was completed in 1885 as the home of Gottlieb Kreidl, the director of the mill. The exterior of the Neo-Renaissance building was repainted in turn-of-the-century style in 2012–2013, and now the structures of the precious building are being restored and the interior is being returned to its late 19th century Neo-Renaissance spirit. At the same time, the building's technical installations will be renewed to ensure fire safety and accessibility.
"The restoration of the owner’s residence is a major cultural achievement. This unique project has been designed with in-depth knowledge of the building's history and heritage values, and it will be carried out by top restoration experts. It is great that the preservation of this valuable building will be safeguarded," says Mikko Mannberg, Senior Architect at the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The Verla mill museum will be open throughout the renovation. The owner’s residence, which has been closed since 2007, will open to visitors at the latest in the beginning of the 2026 summer season. The 100-year Foundation of Kymi Corporation has supported the project with EUR 550,000.
We will keep you informed about the progress of the restoration project in our newsletter, on our social media channels and on our website www.verla.fi/en/.
Photos of the owner’s residence for media use: https://materialhub.upm.com/l/7ggMWwDHzpXb
For more information, please contact:
Ville Majuri, Director, Verla Museum and World Heritage Site, tel. +358 40 542 8050
UPM, Media Relations
Mon-Fri 9:00–16:00 EET
tel. +358 40 588 3284
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Verla mill museum
The old mill village of Verla is known for its uniquely well-preserved industrial heritage. The groundwood and board mill has been the heart of the village since the 1870s, first as a working mill and since 1972 as Finland's first mill museum. In 1996, Verla's idyllic mill complex was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Verla is the only forest industry site on the World Heritage List. The Verla mill museum has been awarded Visit Finland's Sustainable Travel Finland label for its valuable and long-term work for sustainable tourism.
UPM-FINLANDIA - 23 Noviembre 2023