Ett Hem

About the museum

The Ett Hem museum was founded under the will of Alfred and Hélène Jacobsson, dated 18 February 1925. Under the will, the property at Tavastgatan 30 was donated to the Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi (Åbo Akademi Foundation), on the condition that the home should remain unchanged as a museum called Ett hem. After Hélène Jacobsson died in 1928 and Alfred in 1931, the home was turned into a museum, which opened to the public on 29 May 1932. The building on Tavastgatan was demolished in 1955, and the museum reopened in 1965 in the wooden house at Biskopsgatan 14.

The house on Biskopsgatan is a typical example of new buildings in Turku in the early 19th century and was designed by architect Charles Johnsson, who also designed the demolished stone house. The museum is furnished according to its period with furniture, art and textiles collected by the Jacobsson couple. The home gives an insight into a middle-class home from around 1900.

The collections include oil paintings, prints, watercolours, pastels and sculptures by artists such as Albert Edelfelt, Helene Schjerfbeck, Victor Westerholm, Gunnar Berndtson and Akseli Gallen-Kallela, and by sculptors such as Wäinö Aaltonen and Felix Nylund. There is also furniture in various styles, a large textile collection, photographs, postcards, menus and traditional potted plants.

Highlights

• Middle-class home from around 1900 in Turku
• Art by Albert Edelfelt and Helene Schjerfbeck
• Furniture in Biedermeier, Gustavian and Art Nouveau styles
• Large textile collection with rya rugs and bead embroidery
• Christmas exhibition every year
• Digital museum and digital guidebook

Permanent exhibition

• Ett Hem – borgarhem från sekelskiftet 1900 – The home is furnished with furniture, art and textiles collected by the Jacobsson couple, including works by Edelfelt, Schjerfbeck and Gallen-Kallela.

Founded

1932

Operated by

Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi

Admission & discounts

Payment by Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) and Epassi. Free admission with a press card and ICOM card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on one level on the first floor, and the thresholds between the rooms are low (3–5 cm). The entrance on the courtyard side has a landing with four steps. It is possible to visit the museum with a manual wheelchair with the help of an assistant, and with a rollator or a small pushchair; staff are happy to help on arrival. The museum is not barrier-free.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations: not available

The objects are museum pieces that must not be touched. Smaller pushchairs may be taken into the museum.

Getting there & parking

The museum is near Turku Cathedral at Biskopsgatan 14, in a yellow wooden house opposite the restaurant Grädda. The entrance is on the courtyard side.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

Large backpacks, bags, cycle helmets and umbrellas are left on the hooks in the entrance. Shoe covers are available at the entrance, and folding chairs can be borrowed.

Events & venue rental

As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.

The museum cannot be used as a venue for weddings, parties or other private events.

Plan your visit