Practical information (17.6.2002)

Workshop no. 4
This workshop will take place in Kainuu region in the farm called Takkila. Takkila consists of 21 buildings with three dwelling houses dating from 1872, 1922 and 1983. Outbuildings are for different purposes: there is a cow stable, several sheds and a forge. There is even a smoke sauna, which will be heated one evening to give the participants an opportunity to experience this relaxing Finnish habit.

Character of the work
The restoration work will concentrate on three building made of logs, but participants are also free to make restoration proposals and some repair work for other buildings as well. Most of the buildings are made of logs. Besides the actual restoration work we will produce the material for the restoration in a traditional way. We will saw the boards with a pit saw, we will also cleave the wood to make planks and we will learn how to collect the birch bark needed for the repair of the roof.

Note!
Smoking is totally forbidden in the site, because of the danger of fire. At that time of the year the place is really dry and all the buildings are made of wood.

Architects
Architects should take part in the documentation of the work, but they are also free to document other buildings in the farm or to make restoration proposals for the buildings.
We have reserved one day for documentation. That day there will be a discussion and some practical exercises on the subject. A proposal for a documentation procedure will be sent to the participants in advance.

All the participants are asked to make some proposals for the future use and preservation of the place.

Dates (important)

We will begin the workshop with an excursion, which leaves Helsinki airport at 16.30 on Sunday 30th June, so all the participants should be in Helsinki by then. We will not provide the participants with any refreshments at the airport, only on the way to Tyrvää we will have coffee.

We will come back to Helsinki on the Saturday 13th July by night train, which will be in Helsinki 09.06 in the morning. The flights back should not leave before 11.00 on Saturday. On Saturday all the participants are free to enjoy Helsinki until their planes leave. We will give all the participants a ticket for bus to the airport so they can leave at any time of the day, whenever their planes leave.

Participants
Each country should send 1 architect with a good experience of restoration and documentation and 2 carpenters with good experience of practical restoration of wooden buildings. All participants should be professionals, not students. All participants should have at least a basic knowledge of English, which is used as the language for the workshop.

Registration

In order to organise the accommodation, meals etc, we hope you to send the information of the participants by 14th June. (Mr / Mrs, address, organisation, short description of experience, special diets etc)

Place of accommodation
We will be staying in a school house of Ruhtinansalmi in Juntusranta village. The accommodation will be in three class rooms divided into smaller spaces and some smaller rooms can also be used for accommodation.
Every day we will have a breakfast and dinner there, the lunch will be served in Takkila.
There are some shops and a post office etc. in Juntusranta village.
The place of accommodation is situated about half an hour drive from the place of work, Takkila.
We ask all the participants to take their own towels, soaps and other personal things, medicines etc with them.
We ask the participants not to keep any valuable items at the school during the day, because there is no guarding.

Excursions

On our way to the workshop site we have a three day excursion to see some interesting examples of the wooden heritage of Finland. The Finnish organisers will arrange accommodation, meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and transport during the excursion.
During the workshop we will make one excursion on Saturday 6th July to visit the city of Kajaani and some other interesting places nearby.
Sunday 7th July is a free day, but we will arrange an excursion to see nearby Hossa hiking area where there are e.g. rock paintings, old marks of tar pits and traces of timber floating structures.

Guest program
There will not be any special guest program, but those who are interested can take part into the excursion 30th June - 3rd July. Guests in the guest programme will pay their own accommodation and meals etc by themselves.

Evening program

In the evenings we will have few lectures and on Thursday 11th July we will heat the smoke sauna in Takkila. Participants are free to arrange some program for the evenings, but we can use them also for informal discussions and for enjoying the beautiful nature of Kainuu.

Visas, tickets, insurances etc.

We ask the participants to check and take care by themselves if they need a visa or any insurances etc. Also the transport back and from Finland is organised by the participants.

Tools
We ask the participants to bring some of their own tools used for log work with them. Particularly we ask carpenters to bring their axes.
Architects should take their drafting equipment and other material they usually use for documentation.
All the participants are also free to bring along traditional working clothes used in their own country and use them while working in Takkila.
There will be a slide projector, overhead projector and videos at the school of Ruhtinansalmi.

Weather conditions
We are hoping to have a wonderful summer weather, but we can not guarantee it. So the temperature can be anything between +5 C and +25 C. It can also rain, so be prepared for any kind of weather.
There will be mosquitoes in Kainuu region at this time of the year. So if you are allergic, remember to have your medicines with you.