Puutori
Encyclopedia
Puutori Trätorget (Swedish
, lit. "wood market square") is a market square
in the city centre of Turku
, Finland
. It measures at approximately 100x40m. It is bordered by Aninkaistenkatu/Aningaisgatan, Maariankatu/Mariegatan, Brahenkatu/Brahegatan and Sibeliuksenkatu/Sibeliusgatan. Today, it has no regular market square activity but Puutorin puolesta ry organises different events there each year. Located at one end of the square are Ystävyydenpuisto ("friendship park") and Wäinö Aaltonen
's statue Kun ystävyyssuhteet solmitaan
, which was designed in 1955 in honour of the friendship between Turku and Göteborg. There are also small cafés and shops surrounding Puutori, as well as a pet store
.
because it was located to close to the newly built Market Square
, at the time called Aleksanterintori or "Alexander's Market Square". The area was known as Onnettomuudenmäki ("Accident Hill") because the Great Fire of Turku
started at Aninkaistenmäki.
Merchants came to the settlement that had surrounded the square in the 19th century. Old clothing retailers, who had been driven out of the deserted plot that was then bordered by Aurakatu, Venäjänkirkkokatu and Puolalankatu, came to Puutori. In the late 19th century, timber from the countryside was brought to the square to be sold. This is why Aninkaistentori was started to be called Puutori.
In 1902, an old cargo office and terminal (vaakahuone) was built at Puutori. The building was replaced by a new cargo office and terminal in 1933 which became the first public convenience until 1986. Later, in 1997, a new restaurant opened up in the building. The first bus station
in Turku was built at Puutori in the 20th century. However, long-distance buses went to the new bust station, just block away, after it was completed. Local buses was still using Puutori as a base on the 1990s. Local busses now currently operate from Turku Market Square.
Puutori commerce activity has varied over the decades. The Puutori open area was called Finland's largest flea market
in the 1960s but due to overcrowding and an underground car park built in the early 1990s, the square gradually became depopulated.
Many residents of Turku support a possible renewal of Puutori. There is hope that the asphalt lanes that divide the square will be evened out by cobblestones, heavy traffic would slow down and that a regular flea market would reopen at the square. However, in the city's development plans, Turku Market Square is the number one priority.
There has been suggestion that the junction of local buses would be moved from Turku Market Square to Puutori; there are currently local and short-haul bus stops at the corner of the square that operate from Turku Market Square to the north.
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, lit. "wood market square") is a market square
Market square
The market square is a feature of many European and colonial towns. It is an open area where market stalls are traditionally set out for trading, commonly on one particular day of the week known as market day....
in the city centre of Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. It measures at approximately 100x40m. It is bordered by Aninkaistenkatu/Aningaisgatan, Maariankatu/Mariegatan, Brahenkatu/Brahegatan and Sibeliuksenkatu/Sibeliusgatan. Today, it has no regular market square activity but Puutorin puolesta ry organises different events there each year. Located at one end of the square are Ystävyydenpuisto ("friendship park") and Wäinö Aaltonen
Wäinö Aaltonen
Wäinö Valdemar Aaltonen was a Finnish artist and sculptor. The Chambers Biographical Dictionary describes him as "one of the leading Finnish sculptors".He was born to a tailor in the village of Marttila, Finland...
's statue Kun ystävyyssuhteet solmitaan
Kun ystävyyssuhteet solmitaan
thumb|200px|Kun ystävyyssuhteet solmitaanKun ystävyyssuhteet solmitaan or När vänskapsförbindelser knyts is a sculpture erected by Wäinö Aaltonen, located in the Puutori market square in Turku, Finland. It symbolises the twin town partnership of Turku and Göteborg...
, which was designed in 1955 in honour of the friendship between Turku and Göteborg. There are also small cafés and shops surrounding Puutori, as well as a pet store
Pet store
A pet store or pet shop is a retail business which sells different kinds of animals. Pet stores also sell pet food, supplies, and accessories....
.
History
Turku Puutori was marked as a wasteland on the city maps at the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century. The Puutori area was left out of the city plans made by C.L. EngelCarl Ludvig Engel
Carl Ludvig Engel, or Johann Carl Ludwig Engel , was a German architect known for his neoclassical style. He had a great impact on the architecture of Finland in the first part of the 19th century....
because it was located to close to the newly built Market Square
Market Square, Turku
The Market Square is a city square in the city of Turku, in Finland. It is located in the city's VI District, and is generally considered the city's central square. It hosts a lively market on weekdays, and there are several cafés and restaurants on the square.The buildings around the Market...
, at the time called Aleksanterintori or "Alexander's Market Square". The area was known as Onnettomuudenmäki ("Accident Hill") because the Great Fire of Turku
Great Fire of Turku
The Great Fire of Turku was a conflagration that is still the largest urban fire in the history of Finland and the Nordic countries. The fires started burning on 4 September 1827 in Burgher Hellman’s house on Aninkaistenmäki slightly before 9 p.m...
started at Aninkaistenmäki.
Merchants came to the settlement that had surrounded the square in the 19th century. Old clothing retailers, who had been driven out of the deserted plot that was then bordered by Aurakatu, Venäjänkirkkokatu and Puolalankatu, came to Puutori. In the late 19th century, timber from the countryside was brought to the square to be sold. This is why Aninkaistentori was started to be called Puutori.
In 1902, an old cargo office and terminal (vaakahuone) was built at Puutori. The building was replaced by a new cargo office and terminal in 1933 which became the first public convenience until 1986. Later, in 1997, a new restaurant opened up in the building. The first bus station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
in Turku was built at Puutori in the 20th century. However, long-distance buses went to the new bust station, just block away, after it was completed. Local buses was still using Puutori as a base on the 1990s. Local busses now currently operate from Turku Market Square.
Puutori commerce activity has varied over the decades. The Puutori open area was called Finland's largest flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
in the 1960s but due to overcrowding and an underground car park built in the early 1990s, the square gradually became depopulated.
Present day and future
After Puutori became inactive and desolate, the organisation Puutorin puolesta was estabished to revive the square. Nowadays, events for Turun Taiteiden yö (Turku Night of the Arts) as well as Booktori are organised there as well as a flea market event called Vapaatori. In additino to this, a flea market is set up on Saturdays during summertime, bringing in crowds of people.Many residents of Turku support a possible renewal of Puutori. There is hope that the asphalt lanes that divide the square will be evened out by cobblestones, heavy traffic would slow down and that a regular flea market would reopen at the square. However, in the city's development plans, Turku Market Square is the number one priority.
There has been suggestion that the junction of local buses would be moved from Turku Market Square to Puutori; there are currently local and short-haul bus stops at the corner of the square that operate from Turku Market Square to the north.
Neighboring buildings
- Turku Concert HallTurku Concert HallTurku Concert Hall is located on the north side of the Puutori market square in Turku, Finland. The hall was designed by architect Risto-Veikko Luukkonen and constructed in 1952. It was the first concert hall in Finland...
- Puutorin Vessa
- Turku Bus Station
- Turku SynagogueTurku SynagogueTurku Synagogue in the city of Turku is one of the two synagogues in Finland. Located in the VII District, the synagogue is used by the Jewish community of Turku. The synagogue building, designed by architects August Krook and J.E. Hindersson, was completed in 1912....
- Turun ammatti-instituutti
- Turun Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu
- Maakunta-arkisto
- Brahe Center mall
Sources
- Turun SanomatTurun SanomatTurun Sanomat is the leading regional newspaper of the region of Finland Proper. It is published in the region's capital, Turku, and is read daily by about 280 000 people, or 70% of the inhabitants, in the city and its surrounding municipalities, making it the third most widely read morning...
, 14.7.2001, Perinteinen kirpputoripaikka - Turun SanomatTurun SanomatTurun Sanomat is the leading regional newspaper of the region of Finland Proper. It is published in the region's capital, Turku, and is read daily by about 280 000 people, or 70% of the inhabitants, in the city and its surrounding municipalities, making it the third most widely read morning...
, 15.11.2004, Turun torien historiaa näyttelyssä - Kauppatorikin on joskus ollut uusi