Construction company Finnralia has begun preparations for the renovation of the historic Villa Linnunlaulu, which has garnered widespread interest among the local community and construction professionals alike. Villa Linnunlaulu, one of the most well-known villas in the Töölönlahti area in Helsinki, is set to undergo a thorough restoration aimed at preserving its original architecture and historical appearance.
Villa Linnunlaulu – Helsinki, Finland
Villa Linnunlaulu, built in the late 1800s, represents the ornate wooden construction typical of its era. The villa once served as a gathering place for many famous Finnish artists and writers, and it still retains original interior elements such as decorative ceiling paintings and beautiful tiled stoves. As a protected building, the restoration of Villa Linnunlaulu aims to carefully preserve its historical features and cultural heritage.
Leguan 225 as a Key Partner in Renovation Preparations
The renovation project began in the fall of 2024, with the initial phase focusing on supporting the severely damaged structures of the overhanging terraces and other preparations to ensure the building could endure the winter before the next main renovation phase. The Leguan 225 spider lift proved to be an effective and safety-enhancing partner throughout the project.
”In this building, the overhanging terraces were practically on the verge of collapse, and stepping on them before adding support structures would have been life-threatening. The terraces are also present on two floors, and especially on the facade side, the height from the ground exceeds 10 meters. Without the Leguan, supporting the facade structures would have required nearly a week of work just to set up various scaffolds before we could begin the actual work,” explains Vilja Schepel from Finnralia.
Renovating a historically significant site is a vast and years-long project involving not only the owner and contractor but also various authorities and other interest groups, including nearby residents. The goal is always to preserve as much of the old as possible while ensuring that the result is healthy and will remain usable for the next hundred years. Protecting existing structures and the environment requires special precision, and from this perspective, the Leguan has been an invaluable asset for Finnralia.
”I’ve tried the rest, and now I’ve tried the best”
-David Myers
”The Leguan has truly been an indispensable tool for us in this project. Its all-terrain capability and the very small footprint of its wide track platform have allowed us to work around the building effortlessly. We’ve been able to drive the lift to otherwise very hard-to-reach areas, and thanks to its large side reach, we’ve been able to work on entire sides at a time from a single setup spot without constantly moving the lift and thus damaging the surrounding terrain,” says Vilja Schepel.
David Myers, the lead carpenter for the Villa Linnunlaulu project, has been highly satisfied with the Leguan. Its ease of use combined with versatility has enabled the first phase to be completed in a shorter timeframe than anticipated:
”In my 45 years of experience, I’ve worked with almost all types of lifts and various manufacturers. I can honestly say that the Leguan is by far the easiest to operate, and I can recommend it without reservation to anyone in the construction industry who needs a versatile lift. I’ve tried the rest, and now I’ve tried the best.” Villa Linnunlaulu is now safely winterized and ready for the next phase.
Finnralia
Finnralia Oy, established in 2013, is a construction company. Despite its young age, the company has decades of honed expertise in the field. Specializing in the renovation and restoration of old wooden buildings has significantly enhanced the company’s reputation in the industry. Finnralia’s team has become familiar to the general public through TV productions such as ”Huvila ja Huussi” and ”Kotoisa.” The company is led by Australian-born carpenter David Myers and master builder Vilja Schepel.
Vilja Schepel & David Myers from Finnralia