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

Thu, Nov 23, 2023 09:00 CET

(UPM, Helsinki, 23 November 2023 at 10:00 EET) – 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
media@upm.com

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
We deliver renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. As the industry leader in responsibility, we are committed to the UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the science-based targets to mitigate climate change. We employ 17,200 people worldwide and our annual sales are approximately EUR 11.7 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. UPM Biofore – Beyond fossils. www.upm.com

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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

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