- The special character of the city plan makes Mariehamn what it is today, explains the city architect Folke Wickström. Mariehamn is a town that has grown from nothing. Before the building of the town in 1861, here was only a small village called Övernäs, with four farms, near what is now the city hall. Today Övernässtugan at the eastern end of Skillnadsgatan, is the only preserved building from the village Övernäs.
Buildings from the turn of the century put their mark on
Mariehamn.
According to the first city plan from 1859, Chiewitz suggests that Mariehamn will be a town built in stone, but because the material is so expensive, the plan was changed in 1871. Then the possibility to build wooden buildings with large yards with leafy fire lanes between each house is introduced. This was to reduce the hazard of a spreading fire. Today you'll find preserved examples of such yards at the hill near the city hall at Södragatan (picture 2).
There is no uniform architecture in Mariehamn.
- Mariehamn is a through town and impressions have been adapted from here and there, which explains why there is no particular Mariehamn architecture, explains the city architect. What really puts a mark on the town are the houses that where built at the turn of the century 1800-1900. This is the ornate decorative carving architecture that you'll see at for example builder Hilda Hongell's buildings.
Discover the architecture of Mariehamn
Take a walk in the maritime town and enjoy its fine architecture. Here you'll find two examples of walks you can take with a map in your hand.
In the footsteps of Hilda Hongell
The mark of Lars Sonck
Feel free to contact the city architect office at phone: +358 18 531 460 if you want to know more about the architecture in Mariehamn.