Unveiling the Lost 18th-Century Residential Architecture of German Architect Christian Friedrich Schröder in Turku

Abstract

This article uses textual records to examine and partly reconstruct the vanished layers of residential architecture in 18th-century Finland, then the eastern part of the Kingdom of Sweden. In 1827, the biggest fire in the history of Northern Europe almost completely destroyed the town of Turku, which had by then become part of the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland. In addition, a major part of the oeuvre of the influential town architect, the German-born Christian Friedrich Schröder (1722–89), was lost. His influence shaped the development of residential design in the towns and countryside of southwest Finland. This article addresses his relatively vast and previously unknown urban buildings through inventories, especially those on fire insurance policies. This evidence helps to build an overall picture of his designs, which are hitherto known almost only from the most affluent and mainly masonry-built manors, public buildings, and official residences. Moreover, the German-born Schröder’s designs exemplify how 18th-century trends of residential architecture in Europe were implemented in the local context of Finland, even in modest buildings for the middle and lower classes.