The most beautiful buildings

One single most beautiful building could not possibly be chosen in Äänekoski. I can't even rank them. Each of them is beautiful in its own way. There are surely many gems missing from the list. On the day of shooting, these buildings came to mind first. The old hospital (above), the Pukkimäki wooden house, Keskuskoulu, Hirvi, Hiskinmökki, Äänekosken taidemuseo, the factory's old fire station, and the building that currently houses Wille Olohuone & keittiö were captured by the camera on a beautiful autumn day.

Hotelli Hirvi exudes the spirit of its era "Hirvi's pink Functionalist building has seen many changes over the decades. The building has served, among other things, as a bus station, a nightclub, a restaurant, and a cinema. Today, Hirvi brings together accommodation, meeting services, and a quality movie theater.

Äänekosken taidemuseo: "The Äänekoski Art Museum operates on Klubinmäki in the so-called Hammarén House. The building was completed as the factory manager's residence in 1900. Later, several factory engineers' families lived in the house. From the late 1940s to the mid-1970s, the building served as the factories' club and later as the district office of the Metsäliitto Cooperative.

The factory's old fire station

Keskuskoulu

It's been a joy to step inside each building. As a child, they didn't feel so precious—though certainly large. The stairs of Keskuskoulu felt very long. The stairs leading to the top-floor classroom felt almost endless. In the classroom waited teacher Urpo Sparf, who taught there up until the 1960s.

Hiskinmökki, which was moved on 22.1.2020 to the grounds of Wille olohuone ja keittiö.

"Hiskinmökki is the oldest and only remaining building of the Hiskinmäki residential area that grew around the mill of a miller named Hiskias. The cottage was built in the 19th century."

The oven of Hiskinmökki warmed for the atmospheric Christmas fair; then it was definitely the most beautiful building of Christmas. There I first heard the story of the miller named Hiskias and his mill. The first mill ground on the riverbank already in the late 1500s.

Pukkimäki wooden-house area includes a total of eight four-family houses designed by Birger Brunila with their outbuildings (Edit: 24.1. at best, eight families lived per house). The Pukkimäki area is located next to the center of Äänekoski. The area is a residential district built by Äänekoski Oy for its workers from 1920–27

Living in a Pukkimäki wooden house, you could sense the whispers of history—at least that's what I believe. A certain sense of community prevailed in the houses even then. The houses designed by Birger Brunila are skillful in every detail. Those sleeping under the kissanpenkki roofs hear the patter of rain just as the residents did in the 1920s.

"Wille olohuone ja keittiö was commissioned by Wille Rautanen. 

At Wille, a cup of coffee is a familiar ritual – it's easy to drop in both coming and going. For the waffle alone, it's worth a trip. The infatuation with this old, beautifully restored gem does not fade easily. Shopkeeper Wille Rutanen had the Harjula house built in the 1890s. The house has in many ways been connected to the municipality of Äänekoski, and has been known, among other things, as Kuntala and as the city museum. Source: Wille olohuone & keittiö

The many bridges of Äänejärvi frame the landscape

What kinds of stories the buildings hide within—we will never hear them all, but we can admire our buildings. Tomorrow I plan to cross, on the jogging path, the Häränvirta bridge—the one that once led to the upper comprehensive school. I'll return via the footbridge, while imprinting in my mind what the landscape looks like in Äänekoski right now.

Häränvirran silta

Ilona

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