Hus Lindman - Stiftelsenabo

Hus Lindman

Biskopsgatan 15
Year of construction: 1832

Hus Lindman, also referred to as the Rosell House, is a historic building in Empire style. The house was originally built as a residence for provincial doctor Gustaf Rossell, most likely according to Pehr Johan Gylich’s design. Over the years, the house has undergone several renovations and changes in use. Today, it is home to the restaurant Grädda.  

Hus Lindman consists of two angled wooden wings with a stone foundation and a hipped gable roof. The façade of the building is characterized by a centrally placed temple gable, and the main entrance faces the courtyard. Originally, the residential house had 15 rooms. Before the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, the plot was the northern half of the botanical garden of the Åbo Akademi University.

View from the yard in 1980s. Source: Åbo Akademi University Library.

Previous Owners and Åbo Akademi University’s Use 

Over the years, the property has had several owners, including the artist Robert Wilhelm Ekman. The Åbo Akademi University Foundation purchased the property in 1933. After renovations and installation of central heating, the house was rented out as the governor’s residence before being used by the Åbo Akademi University from 1951. At that time, the Sibelius Museum started using several rooms, and the museum curator moved into the street-facing wing.

Over time, the building has housed several departments of the Åbo Akademi University, including the Departments of English and Swedish. From 1988, the house accommodated the Departments of Political Science and Public Administration until they moved to the ASA-buildings in 2009. The building was named Hus Lindman after Sven Lindman, a professor of Political Science.

Governor Franz Kyttä’s home in the 1940s. To the left, Governor Kyttä, and to the right his wife Suoma. Source: Åbo Akademi University Library.
 In the 1950s and 1960s. Hus Lindman was used by the Sibelius Museum. The photo shows various musical instruments, and in the foreground a bronze bust of Jean Sibelius. Source: Åbo Akademi University Library.

Adapting the House for Restaurant Use  

The house underwent extensive renovations between 2010 and 2011 and was converted into a restaurant. Between 2011 and 2020, the restaurant Hus Lindman operated in the building. Since 2021, the house has been rented to the restaurant Grädda.. 
 

Source: Väggarna talar (2017) by Lars Berggren and Annette Landen.