Iltalehti caught up with Finlandia Hall’s director of marketing and communications to tell more about the problem with the new carpet.
Finlandia Hall opened to the public after three years of renovation. TIINA SOMERPURO
Open doors were held at Finlandia Hall on Saturday, January 25, after three years of renovation work. On the open day, visitors were able to see the renovated Finlandia Hall and enjoy the programs of the event.
Iltalehti reporter who visited the place Mari Julku drew attention to the new carpet in the building, which was very fluffy. According to Julku, the carpet aroused wonder in other guests as well. Some wondered and even horrified how the floor could be in such a dirty condition so quickly.
Finlandia Hall’s new Kokolattiamatto aroused wonder because of its fluffiness. Photo taken by a reader
Iltalehti reached Finlandia Hall’s director of marketing and communications Go to Sauramaawhich says that they received feedback on the matter. Sauramaa says that on Saturday, he comforted many people on the spot about the feature of the carpet.
– At first, it gives out the extra fluff, i.e. like a felt. We vacuum it regularly and continuously. As long as it is used enough, it will become denser, resulting in a good and strong surface. Because it [kokolattiamatto] is so long and has so much wool, it becomes such a feature, he explains.
According to Sauramaa, this is a temporary problem. There is no exact estimate of how long the fluffiness will last.
– But now it has been in such heavy use that I strongly believe that it will even out very quickly, says Sauramaa.
– The more people here, the faster we can get the carpet in order, he states.
Finlandia Hall’s walls have been re-coated. Tuomas Uusheimo
Sauramaa says that they followed the regulations and instructions of the protected building when choosing the floor mat.
– It requires that the surfaces must be as they have always been before. We’ve had a great thick carpet and so now it’s the same again. They even wanted to keep the same color tone, he says.
According to Sauramaa, the carpet also received praise from some visitors.
– On Saturday, feedback was also given that it is wonderful to walk on this carpet. You can tell that this is a very thick carpet.
According to Sauramaa, a visit day will be organized again at Finlandia Hall. Sauramaa says that there are plans to organize one, probably already during the ski holiday. He can’t say whether the fluffiness of the carpet has already stopped by then.
The renovation of Finlandia Hall’s main building began in 2022 and has cost the city of Helsinki more than 130 million euros.
Among other things, it was decided to build an underground extension to Finlandia Hall, where the new technical facilities and kitchen can now be found. The extension part was built in the yard on the Mannerheimintie side. In addition, the original apartments built for Finlandia Hall employees were renovated for accommodation.