The more than a hundred-year-old railway workers' house charmed the Hallikainets at once

Riksuu in love is a story series in which people from Riihimäki share their thoughts about their hometown.

"In 2018, we had already lived in a 20-year-old house in Riihimäki Tienhaara and renovated it from floor to ceiling. When my husband's father died, my husband decided that life is too short to spend forever sledding and doing snow work. We bought the 50s apartment of our dreams in the center of Riihimäki, which we decorated stylishly, and we had nothing but 50s stuff. We lived a nice city life and went out to eat a lot," Outi Hallikainen recalls.

Then Korona hit and we didn't get anywhere anymore, but we were stuck there in an apartment building. No one even invited the Hallikais to the sauna. They noticed a wonderful house built in 1911 on Koivistonrinne for sale.

It is an old railway workers' home, which once had three apartments. There are other houses on the street designed by the same architect, all of which were planned to be demolished in the 70s. Fortunately, an active cultural association got them protected.

"We fell in love with the house right away. 70 couples came to watch this, but the others didn't dare to start playing, because the house was tilted and there was enough to do. The house was clearly waiting for us, and we closed the deal on June 17.6.2020, XNUMX and got our own wooden house. The Corona period went more smoothly after that."

A charming large garden

The green 1-square-meter plot is like a fairy-tale flowery world in the summer, because the previous residents planted a huge number of flowers there. There are also 700 apple trees, six cherry trees, a pear tree, a plum tree and a huge number of berry bushes.

"The garden means a lot to me. In the cultivation boxes, I grow edibles from beets to beans and I change them due to crop rotation. I strive for self-sufficiency by growing food using ecological methods."

The plot has the Hallikainen's 120-square-meter home, a 30-square-meter rented cottage, and a large storage building with a courtyard sauna at one end. The previous residents saunaed in the electric sauna in the house, but the Hallikaites removed it and replaced it with a bathroom.

"The courtyard sauna and the old bathtub on its porch are really important to me. The bathtub is my private space in the winter, and I take a dip in it every day in the summer as well. I keep the same water in it for many days."

There is also a guest room next to the courtyard sauna. At the other end of the building is the men's car service station and the owner's training room. He has two bands, Million dollar tones and The three hornets.

"We immediately bought a used trailer when we moved here. Almost all of our building materials are recycled. You can get a lot of good stuff for free and very cheap just by applying. For example, we picked up yard tiles for free from the Riihimäki library site."

The kitchen was renovated because the Hallikainers wanted to change the modern kitchen to a 50s-style one. Cabinets were searched for in three different places, and the icing on the cake is a stove from the 50s, in good condition, bought for ten euros from a renovation site in Töölö.

Crooked floors were straightened, walls were wallpapered and painted, and a bathroom renovation was made. Almost half of the house is a cold room, and they were insulated. Last year, the slanted attics upstairs were insulated and turned into living space.

"Before, we mostly had furniture from the 50s, but we have started to buy older furniture from the 20s as well. After all, there are many layers of time in the house. My favorite store is the Riihimäki recycling centre," laughs Hallikainen.

Riksu's good spirit

Hallikainen praises the spirit of Riihimäki for blowing into one coal. Health services and, for example, mental health services for young people are easily accessible.

"In our city of culture, things happen all the time. My husband has lived in Riksu all his life and knows everyone. Through him, I have met many new people, although I myself have many friends from high school, work and moms club. I lived in Savonlinna for 15 years, and after that the atmosphere in Hämäläinen felt cold at first," he laughs.

Hallikainen loves swimming in open water and thanks the Riihimäki sauna in Hirvijärvi and its openness.

"One of my favorite places is Rahitunlammi on the Janakkala side. I often walk in the magic forest and then take a dip in the water. At the end of the swimming trip, I might go eat at La Fresco on Hämeenkatu, which has good food and a great atmosphere."

Outi Hallikainen

• Born in 1972 in Riihimäki. Lived in Savonlinna for 15 years and moved back to Riihimäki in 1991.
• Education secretary of Environmental Institute Sykli. A five-minute commute, three days a week local jobs.
• The family includes musician-stage manager Aki Hallikainen and three children, aged 16, 18 and 21.
• Enjoys swimming, climbing and gardening.
• On Instagram as huvikumpu2020.

Reija Ypyä