Written by Sirkka Soukka for The Finnish Architectural Review 4/2008
Two years ago, the Blue Marlin - a 12mR class racing yacht built in 1938 - made its way from Slovenia to Kotka, Finland. This 21 metre classic beauty, even if a little worse for wear, had passed into Finnish hands and was taken to Kotka for restoration.
Designed by Charles E Nicholson, probably the best-known naval architect of the 1930s, it was built in England for Marlene Dietrich's friend Marion Betty 'Joe' Carstairs.
The new premises of the Finnish Wooden Boat Centre were designed by the Architects Lahdelma and Mahlamaki Oy. The size of the production hall was determined by the dimensions of the Blue Marlin - self-evidently the first restoration project.
The new building was completed on Kotkansaari next to the Maritime Centre Vellamo in May 2008. The old halls connected to the new building serve the needs of the shipwrights.
The most distinctive and dominant feature of the boat centre is the parable-shaped open-ended dome clad with patinated copper sheets. The 15 metre high space supported by steel arcs house both the boat building hall, complete with the necessary heating and humidity control systems, and unheated storage rooms on two levels.
The dome and the old engineering workshop are interconnected by a wedge-shaped section housing a cafe, library, a small exhibition room and offices.
Acknowledgement for top photo: Jussi Tiainen
Main contractor - YIT Rakennus OY
Copper roof contractor - Kangasniemen Peltityo Ky
