The Bomarsund Visitor Centre, designed by architect Daniel Andersson, doesn’t attempt to outshine its historic setting – instead, it listens, responds, and weaves the past into the present with careful intention. Wrapped in charred-look thermally modified wood by Thermory and rooted in cultural memory, the building stands as a modern ode to resilience, renewal, and respectful storytelling.
Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Expression
Set against the windswept ruins of a 19th-century fortress, the Bomarsund Visitor Centre stands as a bridge between eras. Opened in June 2022 and managed by the Ålands Museum, the 675 m² cultural building was envisioned not to dominate, but to respond – to the land, the history, and the quiet power of the surroundings.
Its design, led by architect Daniel Andersson, draws directly from the spirit of the site. “Respecting and highlighting surrounding history was one of the most important parts of the vision,” says Andersson. “It had to support the overall narrative, not just stand out amidst it.”
Inspired by the 19th-century Empire style once common in the original fortress structures, the visitor centre features a distinct roofline that begins as a clean-cut gable and transitions into a hip roof as it approaches the ruins. This directional shift was a conscious architectural gesture – expressing deference to the presence of the ruins and reducing the new building’s visual weight within the historic landscape.
Photography: Christoffer Relander
Designed for Discovery
The journey to the building is designed with purpose. Visitors approach on foot, slowly revealing the structure in stages. The main entrance opens like a grand portal, grounded by a tiled square framed with historic stones uncovered during archaeological work.
Inside, a calm, wooden interior greets guests. The central hall opens to expansive views of the ruins and coastline – framing the context that defines the Bomarsund story. Exhibition spaces follow a flowing, chronological path, culminating in a glazed exit wall that reconnects the experience to the landscape.
Photography: Christoffer Relander
A Story Carved in Wood and Time
Though today’s ruins are built of granite and brick, wood once played a vital role in Bomarsund’s past. Before the Crimean War, the area was home to a functioning wooden settlement with schools, merchants, and basic services. These buildings were later destroyed by Russian forces in a strategic fire, leaving behind only stone and silence.
Andersson’s architectural vision intentionally reclaims that legacy. “Wood was chosen early in the planning stages not just for its sustainability, but for its symbolic and material relevance,” he explains.
Driven by a curiosity to explore the potential of wood in modern construction, the architect investigated how extensively wood-based materials could be used throughout the project. The result: most elements above foundation level are made fully or partially from wood.
Durability, long-term performance and natural aesthetics were all key considerations. “We chose thermally modified wood because of the properties it provided – like the performance to withstand rot and decay over time,” Andersson explains.
The façade, clad in Ignite by Thermory, features the look of charred timber – a visual reference to the area’s lost wooden settlement and a symbolic link to resilience and renewal. This expression continues seamlessly across the roof, where black factory-painted thermowood completes a unified architectural presence.
Photography: Christoffer Relander
More than just materials
“This project is a prime example of how materials are not just materials – they play a much larger role in supporting a deeply contextual, architectural narrative,“ says Andersson.
The wood cladding is more than a durable building envelope. It’s a storyteller. A silent witness. A deliberate reminder of what was lost – and what can be reimagined.
Already considered a local landmark, the Bomarsund Visitor Centre is not merely a structure. It is a cultural portal – inviting visitors to explore the past with clarity, curiosity, and care.
Photography: Christoffer Relander
Project details:
Year: 2022
Location: Bomarsund, Åland Islands, FI
Architect: Daniel Andersson
Developer: Landskapets fastighetsverk
Product: Thermory Ignite 21×140 thermo-spruce cladding; Factory painted thermo-pine C10 roof
Photographs: Christoffer Relander
Thermory is a globally recognized leader in thermally modified wood and sauna materials. Committed to delivering durable, high-performance wood solutions, the company operates 12 advanced production units across Northern Europe and serves over 60 markets worldwide. To learn more about Thermory’s products and design possibilities, visit the brand’s website.
