Helsinki Cathedral. Photo: Kallerna / Wikipedia Commons
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The façade of Helsinki Cathedral has taken on a noticeably darker tone following restoration work, prompting public curiosity about the landmark’s changing appearance.
The change is the result of a new coat of traditional lime paint applied as part of an ongoing exterior renovation. While the shift in colour is visible, officials insist there has been no deliberate alteration to the cathedral’s established palette.
“The colour now looks sharper and darker,” said Kai Heinävaara, project manager for the Helsinki Parish Union. He explained that variation is inherent in the painting technique used. “We haven’t changed the colour intentionally, but the tone always varies slightly depending on how the paint is applied.”
The renovation follows a colour principle developed under the guidance of architect Vilhelm Helander. It aims to restore the church’s appearance to how it looked more than 25 years ago.
Architect Jaakko Penttilä from the Helander-Leiviskä office said the new layer reflects that historical aesthetic. “We are returning to the church’s look from before the 1990s renovation,” he said.
The current finish was achieved using green umber and bone black pigments, which are mixed manually on-site — a method that makes exact replication impossible. The lime-based paint used is known for its historical authenticity, especially in culturally significant buildings. Over time, its pigments naturally fade, meaning the current darker look is expected to soften within two to three years.
The 170-year-old neoclassical church, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, was originally yellow but has long been associated with a grey-white appearance. Its exposed position atop Senate Square leaves it vulnerable to harsh weather and urban pollution, which wear down decorative plaster and gypsum features.
“The lime starts to lighten almost immediately,” Heinävaara said. “We expect the tone to gradually return to the familiar lighter shade.”
The church’s last major exterior restoration was in the late 1990s. The current renovation is scheduled to finish by the end of November.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
