Base de Datos de Proyectos de PDR

The project promoted the rediscovery of traditional building methods in the village of Kitinoja and provided the space and the tools for new dwellers to prevent traditional Ostrobothnian houses from disappearing.

The typical red timber houses of the Ostrobothnia region in Finland and their open farmlands are a nationally recognised cultural landmark of the Kyrönjoki River Valley where the village of Kitinoja is located. However this local identity is at risk of loss as recent trends have led to the standardisation of housing styles to the detriment of the distinctive character of the buildings, which more and more reflect the modern way of life and identity of their inhabitants.

The project promoted by the Kitinoja village association aimed at recovering the traditional building methods and promoting the construction of new houses according to the time-honoured Southern Ostrobothnian model. The initiative also aimed at raising awareness of the distinctive cultural landscapes, the importance of building preservation and sustainable development through the use of local materials and know-how, while proposing a valid alternative to standard housing solutions.

The project activities mainly focused on connecting potential future residents with land-owners. Funding was used to undertake information and dissemination actions including meetings and fact-findings trips, the production of brochures and social media campaigns directed to potential land-buyers intended to build a new house and establish themselves in the village. Special guidelines on traditional building methods for new owners were produced in collaboration with a specialised architect.

As a result of the activities twelve plots of land were made available to new residents who raised traditional Ostrobothnian houses and courtyard areas. The 48 pages building guidelines, available both in print and in electronic format have become a reference tool to be used locally as well as all over the country. The project contributed to turn Kitinoja into a model for aesthetic and ecological housing and promoted the concept of cultural values as a resource, reaching wide public attention.

The success and the attention received by the initiative show that preserving the local cultural and architectural heritage was not only important to to local dwellers, but to the wider local community, stimulating cooperation among public authorities, experts in traditional construction and building entrepreneurs among others in order to achieve a common goal. In this respect building a good network among local actors was a precondition to success.

Kitinoja village, Kyrönjoki River Valley, Region of Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa)

Etelä-Pohjanmaa

Mainland

86 780

42 861

33 336

https://www.valokaista.fi

Taina Hautamäki

taina.hautamaki@hotmail.com

English, Finnish