Cultural Centre Valve

Cultural center in Oulu, Finland

Cultural Centre Valve

Kulttuuritalo Valve

Former names| NuKu
General information
Type| Cultural center
Address| Hallituskatu 7
Town or city| Oulu
Country| Finland
Coordinates| 65°00′51″N 025°28′14″E﻿ / ﻿65.01417°N 25.47056°E﻿ / 65.01417; 25.47056
Construction started| 1883
Completed| 1884
Renovated| 1894
Owner| City of Oulu
Technical details
Floor area| 3,500 m2 (38,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Johan Lybeck
Renovating team
Architect(s)| Grahn, Hedman & Wasastjerna
Website
www.kulttuurivalve.fi
References
[1][2]

Cultural Centre Valve is a cultural center in the Pokkinen neighbourhood in Oulu, Finland.

The cultural center provides spaces for variety of cultural activities. There are two theatre stages, a cinema, galleries, workshops and other spaces in the building. The Valve has got the second largest film library in Finland.[1] The film library[3] as well as the cinema Studio are operated by the Oulu Film Centre.[4] Northern Photographic Centre has got its office and galleries in the cultural center.[5]

## History of the building

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The Great Oulu Fire of 1882 destroyed the building located on the lot of the cultural center. A tradesman K.J. Granberg built the first two floors of the building after the fire in 1883–1884 according to the plans by architect Johan Lybeck. The city of Oulu bought the building after Granberg was declared bankrupt. The city hired the architect office Grahn, Hedman & Wasastjerna to plan an expansion of the building to be the new city hall. The building was widened and raised with one floor in 1893–1894. In addition to the municipal offices the building also hosted the Trade and Industry school of Oulu and the police station. In the 1950s prison cells were built near the building and from 1953 the building was entirely turned into police station.[2]

The police station was relocated in the 1980s. The building was renovated as a youth and cultural center called NuKu by the city of Oulu in 1987–1989. The prison cells were replaced with a new modern building in 1992. In 2007 the youth activities moved into the nearby buildings, and the center was renamed to Valve.[2]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Spaces and Facilities at the Cultural Centre Valve". City of Oulu. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
2. ^ a b c Kovalainen, Pasi; Passoja, Brita; Turpeinen, Juhani (2008). Viisikanta - Hyvää rakennussuojelua (in Finnish). Rakennustieto Oy. pp. 105–106\. ISBN 978-951-682-899-5.
3. ^ "Library". Oulu Film Centre. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
4. ^ "Operations". Oulu Film Centre. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
5. ^ "Association". Northern Photographic Centre. Retrieved 2014-09-30.

## External links

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Media related to Cultural Centre Valve at Wikimedia Commons