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EN
ES
FR
Notice (permalien)
Réf.
41841
Type
conference item
Titre
Process of change and modernisation in old parsonages of Finland
Langues
English
Auteurs
Soikkeli, Anu
Date
2003
Pages
8 p.
Titre de conférence
14th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Place, memory, meaning: preserving intangible values in monuments and sites’
Lieu de conférence
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Date de conférence
27 – 31 oct 2003
Mots-clés
presbyteries / conservation / modernization / repairs / building materials / conservation of historic monuments / historic buildings / timbers
Résumé en anglais
Parsonages are a central part of Finnish culturalenvironment, and have had an effect on their
surroundings in many ways. Until the early 1900’sparsonages functioned not only as dwellings for the
clergyman and his family, but also as farmhouses. Inaddition to the functional solutions dictated by
agriculture, the architecture of parsonages has alwaysdisplayed the social and cultural conditions and values of
their inhabitants and builders. However, the period ofmodernization that followed the First World War began
to erode the parsonage tradition, as the status of theclergyman in the community changed, parsonage
agriculture was given up, and new industrial constructionmaterials and thorough, modernizing repairs replaced
traditional upkeep.This study examines changes in the condition and
renovation methods of the 550 preserved parsonagescaused by modifications in their use. As the study
progressed, it revealed that only about 20 % of thecurrently preserved parsonages are even partly used by
the clergy. In addition to being a residence, other presentdayuse varies from parish hall to stone working shop,
and from social reception facility to children’s day carecenter. Changes made during the 20th century have often
caused a new problem as far as the question ofpreservation is concerned. What are we actually
preserving or wish to save? The parsonage culture, whichhas actually already disappeared due to the changes in
the living habits of the clergy? The setting, which oftenhas been radically modified? The bui
lding, which hasvery little of its antiquarian value remaining? Or are we
only preserving a historical memory?For hundreds of years, up to the 1950’s, parsonages were
commonly repaired in a delicate way that did not destroytheir basic nature. Only parts of the building requiring
upkeep were repaired. At the end of the decade and in the1960’s repairs were increasingly characterized by allinclusiveness
and industrial materials that were foreign toold buildings. In the frenzy of total renewal many
parsonages lost not only their original layout and scale,but also their old materials and heating systems with tiled
ovens. Fortunately, in many cases renewal andinstallation of surface sheeting were done hurriedly and
conveniently by simply covering the old materials. Similarly, old surfaces in need of repair were coveredwith brightly-coloured chipboard sheeting in the 1970’s.
However, in the 1980’s all too often parsonages wererepaired too thoroughly and carefully. Old materials were
often discarded, leaving only the log frame to bearwitness to the history of the building. In such a case
nothing can be saved. Fortunately, in this decade we haveincreasingly begun to value things that are old.
Nevertheless, it is still difficult to accept layered history ina building. We would rather see a building restored to the
appearance of a given period, which often distorts thehistory of the building.
surroundings in many ways. Until the early 1900’sparsonages functioned not only as dwellings for the
clergyman and his family, but also as farmhouses. Inaddition to the functional solutions dictated by
agriculture, the architecture of parsonages has alwaysdisplayed the social and cultural conditions and values of
their inhabitants and builders. However, the period ofmodernization that followed the First World War began
to erode the parsonage tradition, as the status of theclergyman in the community changed, parsonage
agriculture was given up, and new industrial constructionmaterials and thorough, modernizing repairs replaced
traditional upkeep.This study examines changes in the condition and
renovation methods of the 550 preserved parsonagescaused by modifications in their use. As the study
progressed, it revealed that only about 20 % of thecurrently preserved parsonages are even partly used by
the clergy. In addition to being a residence, other presentdayuse varies from parish hall to stone working shop,
and from social reception facility to children’s day carecenter. Changes made during the 20th century have often
caused a new problem as far as the question ofpreservation is concerned. What are we actually
preserving or wish to save? The parsonage culture, whichhas actually already disappeared due to the changes in
the living habits of the clergy? The setting, which oftenhas been radically modified? The bui
lding, which hasvery little of its antiquarian value remaining? Or are we
only preserving a historical memory?For hundreds of years, up to the 1950’s, parsonages were
commonly repaired in a delicate way that did not destroytheir basic nature. Only parts of the building requiring
upkeep were repaired. At the end of the decade and in the1960’s repairs were increasingly characterized by allinclusiveness
and industrial materials that were foreign toold buildings. In the frenzy of total renewal many
parsonages lost not only their original layout and scale,but also their old materials and heating systems with tiled
ovens. Fortunately, in many cases renewal andinstallation of surface sheeting were done hurriedly and
conveniently by simply covering the old materials. Similarly, old surfaces in need of repair were coveredwith brightly-coloured chipboard sheeting in the 1970’s.
However, in the 1980’s all too often parsonages wererepaired too thoroughly and carefully. Old materials were
often discarded, leaving only the log frame to bearwitness to the history of the building. In such a case
nothing can be saved. Fortunately, in this decade we haveincreasingly begun to value things that are old.
Nevertheless, it is still difficult to accept layered history ina building. We would rather see a building restored to the
appearance of a given period, which often distorts thehistory of the building.
Document joint
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