Locals in Avinurme have probably noticed a big sign bearing the name of Merko Ehitus next to the bus station and a board carrying information about what is going to happen to our old parsonage house this summer. Furthermore, many of you might also know that the reconstruction of the Cultural Heritage Centre is made possible owing to the support under the measure for improving the competitiveness of regions launched by Enterprise Estonia. This programme is financed with the help of European Structural Funds, aiming at creating premises for and boosting the development of the region as a whole by supporting certain areas of activity.
The construction work will result in a brand new Avinurme Cultural Heritage Centre for introducing the customs, culture, traditions and skills of our area, and creating a place where we can rediscover and develop both ourselves as well as our skills in order to demonstrate, teach and sell our handicraft skills.
The construction under way is likely to arouse interest and questions.
Even though the building itself is not subject to heritage conservation, it is located within the church’s heritage conservation area, which means that everything related to the outdoor appearance of the building shall be coordinated with the National Heritage Board. However, trying to maintain and introduce traditions, the reconstruction indeed intends to keep the authenticity and quintessential quality of the building to the extent possible.
The first floor will have skylight windows to make the floor suited for use. The roof itself has been constructed as a true shingle roof, as befits a house introducing the heritage of Avinurme.
[the Center's house in december 2009]
The outdoor paint of the house has also raised diverse opinions and questions. But yes, this was the original paint of the building, which was recovered from the boards under the eaves and was specifically tone-tuned for the building. At first unaccustomed to the eye, the blue colour had a majestic and costly air a century ago, and with the bright-white restored windows the paint provides the building with a shimmering glow against the blue sky. Slightly darker porch boards are also reminiscent of the original hues of the house. The tin roof of the porch is also a detail of the original building.
Most respectable, however, are the windows and doors of this house, which appear new and grand after the restoration. Yet, they are evocative of a century of memories, wisdom and skills of handicraft and building masters. Window hinges have been cleaned and cremone bolts shining, even the glazier's putty has been restored. The rarest are the old, manually cast windowpanes, which are still largely there, regardless of centuries-old colourful history of the building and regardless of the long traditions of housing a kindergarten, resulting in fairly regular replacement of broken windows.
Soon the restored porch windows and plates arrive and then the house will regain its original splendour.
Unfortunately, the rubble-stone foundation of the house could not be reconstructed, for in the 1960s it was covered with a thick cement layer, the removal of which is quite difficult at this point.
To heat the house the cellar has a local boiler house, which since the end of last year also provides heat to the builders in the house.
Indoor work has reached the stage where necessary reconstruction is almost finished and the interior decorating work is about to commence.
All construction work is on schedule and well-planned, and for that we should be first and foremost grateful to the project manager, Mart Paas, and site manager, Rene Roone.
21-22 november in Helsinki Craft Fair
12-13 november in Jõhvi Enterprising Education Trade Fair
August 2009
Renovations of the Centre's building began. Work is done by AS Merko, architects are Tiit Sild and Kaido Kepp.
Doors will be openned in June 2010.
14.05.09
Enterprise Estonia is funding the renovation of the Centre's building.
