Timber Reuse in Mediaeval Churches of Finland

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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Date

2025

Department

Department of Architecture

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Mcode

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Language

en

Pages

23

Series

International Journal of Wood Culture, Volume 5, issue 1-3, pp. 40-62

Abstract

Reusing construction materials is as old as construction itself. The most prevalent historical examples of reuse, especially spolia, consist of buildings made of hard and durable materials, such as stone and bricks. We examined circular wood use, including reuse, remanufacturing and recycling, on large-scale mediaeval construction sites, specifically in Finland’s mediaeval stone churches. In the Nordic countries, especially Denmark and Sweden, the reused pieces from older churches were intentionally positioned in niches, doorways, and window sills. In this study, we reflect on two standing examples of the mediaeval reuse of sacral timber from Finland: St. Mary’s Church in Pohja and St. Henry’s Church in Pyhtää. Our study aimed to highlight the practical starting points and motivations for reclaiming timber and the possible intentional positioning of sacred wood in ecclesiastical buildings. The analysed Finnish cases could currently be considered examples of a local ‘circular material economy’, with opportunities for recycling and reuse. Our research shows that ritualistic or artistic expressions did not motivate the Finnish reuse cases. Instead, the reuse helped reduce the time- and labour-intensive work of the local mediaeval community, given the modest available energy surplus for large-scale construction projects.

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Keywords

church, Finland, Middle Ages, reuse, roof structure, timber

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DOI

10.1163/27723194-bja10044

Citation

Dalheimer, F, Savolainen, P, Laine, L, Välimäki, R & Aakala, T 2025, 'Timber Reuse in Mediaeval Churches of Finland', International Journal of Wood Culture, vol. 5, no. 1-3, pp. 40-62. https://doi.org/10.1163/27723194-bja10044

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202601141232

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[article-cris] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS