Plan for relinquishment, communication and commemoration of a building to be demolished

Hyrylä is undergoing one of the biggest changes in its history. The old Hyrylä garrison area has been redeveloped over several years into Rykmentinpuisto Park. The garrison barracks have changed shape, as have some of the training grounds. Hyrylä, west of Tuusulanväylä, is following suit. Apartment buildings are being constructed on Palokunnanmäki hill. The demolition of the former municipal hall is about to begin, with construction fencing appearing around the building today, Monday. In a few weeks, the same will happen to the old Hyrylä shopping centre, when preparations for the so-called Hyrylä service centre begin with the demolition of the shopping centre.

The first project in our revamped service network – schools and daycare centres – was the Martta Wendelin Daycare Centre, which opened last autumn. It replaced several small daycare centres, many of which have already been demolished: Hyrylä, Väinölä, Harjula, and soon Mikkola. The Kirkonkylä school was completed in the late 1950s. It has now been demolished. A new school and daycare centre are being built on the same site.

When Monio is completed next summer, the former Tuusula comprehensive school, now the Hyrylä branch of Tuusula Upper Secondary School, will remain in use for other purposes until the school centre is also demolished to make way for the Rykmentinpuisto multi-purpose campus. The same applies to the newer parts of Hyökkälä School.

All of these buildings, which are being decommissioned and demolished, have played a significant role in the development of Tuusula to this day. Schools, daycare centres, the town hall, the Hyrylä shopping centre and other important buildings in our environment are associated with stories and events. Those who grew up, went to school and worked in these buildings have their own personal experiences as well as stories told by their friends.

Human life has a beginning and an end. When the old ends, the new begins. The old and departed are honoured in various ways. The same should apply – in an appropriate manner – to our lives and our community, as well as to the buildings that have shaped our homeland.

The municipality of Tuusula is actively promoting its revamped service network, the Hyrylä service centre and Rykmentinpuisto. It is talking about how wonderful they are, what they offer, square metres and euros. The foundation stone has been laid, the topping-out ceremony has been celebrated, and soon they will be inaugurated with speeches and Finnish flags flying.

However, unfortunately, little has been heard or communicated about the buildings to be demolished; about their history, experiences, events, and the lives lived there. There has been little reminiscing about the past or sharing of experiences. Instead, residents have been wondering in various discussion groups about the movable property left behind in the buildings and yards to be demolished.

I propose that the municipality of Tuusula take immediate action to draw up a plan for the disposal, communication and commemoration of public buildings to be demolished. The plan must cover the perspectives of different sectors and the actions to be taken with regard to buildings awaiting demolition, transcending silos. It should also cover how we will work with the residents on this.

I happened to come across an article by Erkki Tuomioja, whom I know from Tuusula:
“I have long been concerned about the lack of history in our time, or more precisely, the scarcity and limitations of historical knowledge. Those who do not know how and where we have arrived at where we are today cannot see into the future and take control of it. This reinforces the lack of perspective, short-sightedness and living in the moment that characterises our era.”

This content has been translated using AI

Attachments

• You are being redirected to another service Päätös