Burtz House
Aleksanterinkatu 24
With the rise of a more prosperous middle class in Helsinki
in the 18th century, the wealthy merchants began to build
themselves fine new residences and business houses of stone.
A good example of their style is the house built by a merchant
named Sederholm adjoining the Lion Block.
The residence of merchant Nils Burtz was completed in 1775
and was probably the first in Helsinki to have three storeys.
The facade was altered when the entire length of the block
facing onto Senate Square was given a Neoclassical look in
the 1830s. The house was in residential and commercial use
right up to the early 20th century but passed into the hands
of the Helsinki Police in the closing decade of the previous
century. Nowadays owned by the City of Helsinki, it still
has many details typical of 18th and 19th century interiors,
such as ornamented timber ceilings, wooden floorboards, doors
and windows. The exterior was left as such during the renovations
of 1985-1987.
The ground floor is currently occupied by shops and offices,
the upper floors by the City Office.
Illustration:
The Burtz and Hellenius houses in 1860s. Panorama south from
St. Nicholas's Church. The Burtz (left) and Hellenius (right)
houses can be seen left in the foreground. (Photo: E. Hoffers,
1866), Helsinki City Museum
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