A Dialogue Between Past and Present: The Bomarsund Visitor Centre (Åland Islands)

October 23, 2025
Design

Some places ask for attention. Others ask for respect. The Bomarsund Visitor Centre on the Åland Islands asked for both.

When we first learned about this project, we knew it wasn’t about making something new — it was about reviving something sacred. The story of Bomarsund is layered with conflict, resilience, and rediscovery, and we’re proud that our thermally modified wood became part of its next chapter.

A Fortress, a Fire, and a Lasting Legacy

In the mid-1800s, the Bomarsund fortress stood as the westernmost stronghold of the Russian Empire — a massive granite and brick structure meant to protect the Gulf of Bothnia and the approaches to St. Petersburg.

But in 1854, during the Crimean War, the fortress was bombarded by French and British forces and reduced to ruins in a matter of days. The Russians, retreating, set fire to the wooden settlement that surrounded the fortress — homes, schools, post offices, the first urban community of the Åland Islands.

Those flames left behind more than charred foundations; they left a silence that lasted for generations. Today, the ruins are one of Åland’s most important historical landmarks — reminders of both destruction and endurance.

So when the idea for a visitor center emerged, the question wasn’t how to rebuild the past, but how to let it speak again.

Architecture that Listens

Architect Daniel Andersson approached the Bomarsund project with deep sensitivity to place. The goal wasn’t to compete with history, but to frame it — to let the new architecture serve as a respectful continuation of what was already there.

The 675-square-meter visitor center, inaugurated in 2022, sits along a historical causeway leading toward the fortress. Even the approach is deliberate — visitors walk from the parking area, building anticipation as the structure slowly reveals itself. A gable roof transitions into a hip roof near the ruins, creating a directional gesture of humility. The building seems to bow slightly toward the remnants of history it honors.

Inside, the wooden interior glows with warmth — a counterbalance to the dark, textured façade outside. The main hall opens to views of the ruins and the shore beyond, grounding visitors in the landscape’s history. Exhibition spaces guide guests through time, ending with a panoramic view of the site through a wide glazed wall.

It’s a quiet, powerful experience — architecture that listens rather than shouts.

Reclaiming Wood’s Place in History

Wood was once an integral part of Bomarsund. Before the fortress fell, the area was home to wooden homes, shops, and public buildings — the island’s first thriving settlement. But when those structures were burned, wood disappeared from the site’s architectural memory.

Andersson wanted to bring it back — not as nostalgia, but as restoration. Using wood here meant acknowledging what was lost and allowing it to return in a new, enduring form.

That’s where Thermory came in. Our thermally modified wood offered both the performance and the symbolism this project needed — a material shaped by heat, just as Bomarsund’s story was shaped by fire.

In the words of the architect:

“In the days leading up to the Battle of Bomarsund, the Russians torched all wooden buildings in the area as an act of defense. This event produced an eerie wasteland of chimneys and stone foundations that were left abandoned. The architectural design of the Visitor Centre facilitates this event as an argument to use wood and wood-based products for as many purposes as wisely possible.”

A Charred Aesthetic, Without the Fragility

The façade and roof of the Bomarsund Visitor Centre are clad in Ignite by Thermory, our embossed, thermally modified wood that recreates the look of traditional charred timber. The deep, textured pattern mirrors the beauty of shou sugi ban — without the fragility or mess of actual burning. Here, that dark finish is a visual echo of the fires that once consumed this place – transformed now into strength and permanence.

Andersson adds, “The dark expression of the charred wooden cladding on the building’s facade and roof symbolizes a clear connection and a constant reminder of that destructive event.”

The same visual language continues across the roof with our dark, factory painted Benchmark Pine cladding, creating a seamless and unified envelope of protection.

Built for Generations

From the start, sustainability and longevity were central to the design. Thermally modified wood, enhanced only by heat and steam, delivers exceptional resistance to rot and weathering — without chemicals or compromise.

Andersson’s team pushed this idea as far as possible, incorporating wood wherever they could. Nearly every element above the foundation is made fully or partially from wood — an exploration of how far natural materials can carry modern architecture.

What This Project Means to Us

Our partnership with the project team began early — selecting profiles, finishes, and tones that would align with the architect’s vision.

Working alongside Daniel Andersson and Ålands Bygg (construction company), we refined every detail, ensuring the façade and roof worked in harmony — aesthetically, technically, and symbolically. The process was thoughtful and precise, and the result reflects that shared care.

When the visitor center opened its doors, it quickly became a cultural landmark. The architect shares, “The building is already an iconic building on the Ålands Islands. We were honored by hosting the former Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, and His Majesty The King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, as its first public visitors.”

For Thermory, the Bomarsund Visitor Centre represents what we value most: design with purpose, materials with meaning, and collaboration built on respect.

We’re proud that our wood could play a role in telling the Bomarsund story.

Project Details