Film industry professionals from Kokkola are renovating the protected building. Juho Kuosmanen and Jussi Rantamäki want to share the creative atmosphere of the area with other artists in the field as well.
Kokkola is getting a residency in the film industry. Kulttuurisatama ry rents Hammar’s house at Sahakatu 7 from the city of Kokkola, where, according to the association’s plans, screenwriters and directors, for example, can gather to plan and write their future projects.
In addition, courses related to the film industry are held in the building. A course for screenwriters led by German dramaturgs has already been planned for next spring. The Master’s course at Teatterikorkeakoulu is also bringing actors to the training.
Kokkola’s city government approved the 30-year lease agreement with Kulttuurisatama yesterday. The annual rent is 2850 euros. The rent is affordable because the association undertakes to renovate a historically valuable and protected building. Hammari’s house was built at the end of the 19th century, its interior is still in the early 20th century.
– We are starting to renovate the house in the same spirit as the inn next door, that is, we are gathering a group that will finance the work and a lot of work will be done with talcum powder, says Rantamäki.
According to the film producer, Rantamäki and Kuosmanen’s companies have already committed to financing the renovation.
– The first thing to do is to repair the roof so that the house stays in good condition.
In the site plan, the area is a tradition quarter, where cultural activities can be built, such as buildings serving theater, concert, museum or exhibition activities. The Saha Cafe and the Ykspihlaja Guest House, which opened its doors in the summer, operate in the area, and cultural workers also played a big role in its renovation.
– For me, as a producer and as a film director for Juho Kuosmane, that has been a very important yard for us. We want to share the creative atmosphere that is there more widely for the use of Finnish filmmakers, explains Rantamäki for embarking on a new house project.
Hammari’s house has now been used by fishermen, according to Rantamäki, fishermen can still use the premises.
The town of Kokkola thought for a long time about the fate of Hammari’s house.
First, the city planned to sell the house in a closed auction, in which the prospective buyers had to present a renovation and use plan for the house. Kulttuurisatama was the only entity approved for the actual auction, from which the buyer candidate left on the shore filed a rectification claim.
After this, the city took a time extension in the case and stopped the auction and now decided to rent the house. According to Rantamäki, the association itself proposed a rental procedure to the city when it first contacted the city over a year ago.