The property was originally built as a paper mill in 1785.
The former Frenckell paper mill, located in the heart of Tampere, is set to take on a new purpose.
The Nordic hotel group Strawberry is building a 168-room and suite hotel at Frenckell.
Aare Invest, a Tampere-based real estate investment and development company, purchased the Frenckell building from the City of Tampere in 2023.
“This is an exceptionally significant project for us. Frenckell is one of Tampere’s most iconic buildings, and from the very beginning, we have felt a great sense of responsibility for shaping its future,” says Marko Kuusisto of Aare Invest in a press release.
The Frenckell property was originally built as a paper mill in 1785. It became city-owned as early as the 1920s.
The hotel is scheduled to open in 2028. It will also be Strawberry’s first hotel in Tampere.
The hotel will have a direct connection to the Frenckell Theater, linking the accommodation to Tampere’s cultural life.
“Frenckell won’t just be a hotel; it will become the beating heart of the city, belonging to everyone, says Strawberry’s Norwegian founder, billionaire Petter Stordalen, in a press release.
The Finnish design firm Fyra is responsible for designing the hotel rooms, and Neva & Co. is serving as the project’s lead architect. The goal is to draw inspiration from the industrial history of Tammerkoski.
“There’s something about Frenckell that can’t be recreated in a new building. Its history, location, and architecture make it completely unique,” says Kuusisto.
The heart of the hotel will be a 400-square-meter lobby, which will house the front desk, a bar, a lounge, a coworking area, and a boutique. In the evenings, guests can look forward to concerts, live music, and various events.
The hotel’s restaurant and event operations will expand into a 1,400-square-meter courtyard in the summer.
In addition, the property will feature 800 square meters of versatile meeting and event spaces.