Silo Rising: Restoring the AaltoSiilo with Educational Consortium OSAO

As part of the AaltoSiilo's transformation into the legacy project of Oulu's year as European Capital of Culture 2026, the restoration project led by Factum Foundation in collaboration with Skene Catling de la Peña saw the collaboration of students from the Educational Consortium OSAO, a vocational education and training institution operating in Northern Finland. From August to November 2025, the students worked with architects and experts from the architectural and restoration fields, gaining hands-on experience in cultural heritage preservation within an international working environment.

We would like to thank Janne Petteri Korhonen, student at the Educational Consortium OSAO, for his work and for producing this video documenting the renovation of the Silo.

Restoring Light and History

In August 2025, OSAO restoration students joined the project under the expert coordination of the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum. On 11 August, phase two of the renovations officially began with the removal of all windows of the Silo for restoration. The students meticulously cleaned each original window after removal, then worked to restore them using documentation from the Alvar Aalto Foundation. They repaired original components and applied tar coatings, following Aalto's authentic methods. Plans for the window restorations, which kept as much of the original frames as possible, were carefully finalised by the students.

By November, twelve historic windows had been successfully restored and reinstalled. Each window represented a different period in the silo's operational history and was thoroughly documented throughout the restoration process. After decades in darkness, natural light filled the AaltoSiilo once again—a testament to the students' exceptional craftsmanship.

An Experimental Floor of Reclaimed Materials

Throughout the process, students carefully selected materials for future reuse in further renovation phases. Slabs of concrete from the floor and bricks from the walls were removed, selected, and stored for future use, embodying sustainable restoration practices.

Alongside the window restoration, students designed and built an experimental brick floor for Bay 1 using reclaimed bricks from the demolition process and other construction sites in the Oulu area. Inspired by Aalto's Experimental House in Muuratsalo, this floor functioned as a hands-on learning platform where students explored various brick-laying techniques through direct practice. Dozens of reclaimed brick modules were arranged in patterns that echoed the site's industrial past. During a closing ceremony, the students marked the central module with their thumbprints, completing this unique element of the restoration by contributing to a long-standing craftsmanship tradition.

International Learning Environment

Students worked in an international environment where restoration and design were led by Factum Foundation and Skene Catling de la Peña, with both English and Finnish spoken on site. They received guidance from AaltoSiilo project manager Valentino Tignanelli and restoration architect Raimo Tikka from the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum, as well as from lead architect Charlotte Skene Catling, who travelled from London to assess progress, engage with the students, and present internship certificates on behalf of Skene Catling de la Peña and the Factum Foundation.

The students also benefited from an insightful presentation on 15 September by Finnish architect and Aalto heritage expert Tapani Mustonen about the history and renovation of Alvar Aalto Studio in Helsinki.

A Journey into History and Craftsmanship

Restoration teachers Merja Tenhunen and Tiia Tilus reflected on the experience:

"This project gave students a unique opportunity to apply knowledge they had already learnt, practise new skills, and work alongside experts. The work was not only about restoring a building—it was also a journey into our history, craftsmanship, and tradition. This project is not only part of the region's industrial history, but also part of its future—our cultural heritage for future generations!"

Towards Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026

The collaboration between OSAO and the Factum Foundation was part of OSAO's activities, supported by the Agentti023 project, which promotes cultural climate change at OSAO. The project develops new courses focused on cultural wellbeing and integrates cultural work-life projects into vocational studies. As Oulu prepares to become the European Capital of Culture in 2026, OSAO played an active role in these cultural initiatives.The Agentti023 project is co-funded by the European Union, with funding granted by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, and additional support from the City of Oulu.