History of Turku Market Hall

Browse the colourful history of the Market Hall in our 120 year jubilee publication:

1896

in the end of the 19th century, building of a market hall in Turku was considered neccessary, as trade in the market places had for long been chaotic and the hygiene standards could not be met.
Achitect G. Nyström had for a few years earlier designed the first market hall in Finland, The Helsinki Marketplace Market Hall, that was opened to the public in 1889 and was hired to plan the second oldest hall in as well.
Nyström was the leading specialist of Market Halls in Finland at the tiome, as he had toured Europe to study them. According to his plans the building would require ca. 300 000 bricks and over 42 tons of iron elements.

1900

As the new Market Hall was completed the local newspaper Uusi Aura wrote thus: “The space is turning out fairly dainty and the interiors give a splendid impression.”
At the time the Market Hall had 15 shops, which all sold groceries. It was planned that all marketplace trade would move indoors in the new clean premises.
As time went by the amount and variety of the shops increased. By the 1950’s the refridgeration and storage spaces of the Market Hall were already outdated, but its renovation was not started until a few decades later.

1930

The habit of ordering groceries home, which is nowadays trendy, is actually quite an old invention.
As early as 1930’s the Market Hall employed a group of errand boys and porters, who delivered groceries from the market hall to the neighbourhood or even further by bike.

1960

By the 1960’s the Market Hall was already technically outdated and even its demolition was on the table.
The plans caused a wide protest wave in the town and were quickly abandoned.
Instead of demolition the Market Hall was thoroughly renovated in the 70’s. Since then a range of smaller renovations have been done, but always preserving the original feel of the hall.
Nowadays the Market Hall belongs to the highest protection class and no-one would dare even to propose it’s demolition.