Marela House: A Shipowner's Home in Old Rauma

Marela House stands as a tangible representation of Rauma's maritime prosperity within the Old Rauma UNESCO World Heritage site. Now a home museum, the building's ornate exterior tells the story of the city's wealthy ship-owning class during the golden age of sailing.

Architectural History

The main building of Marela House was completed in 1825, with other structures on the property, such as a granary and a carriage shed, dating to the 1830s and mid-1800s respectively. The property's layout was largely shaped during the nearly century-long ownership of the Paqvalin family.

The house's current appearance, however, dates to the late 19th century. Driven by the immense wealth generated by the sailing ship trade, Marela was one of approximately two-thirds of the houses in Rauma to undergo significant modernization. This renovation gave the exterior its fashionable Neo-Renaissance style, a look that became integral to the town's character. A later addition, the Neo-Renaissance planking for the coach house, was designed by architect M. Isaksson in 1902.

A History of Notable Owners

The house is named for Abraham Marelin, a tradesman and shipowner who owned the property in the late 18th century. Its most prosperous period came under the ownership of Gabriel Granlund II, a prominent and wealthy shipowner who acquired the house in the 1870s.

Granlund was a fascinating figure who began his seafaring career at age nine and became fluent in several languages without formal schooling. He was known to be both rich and frugal. However, following his death in 1901, his family embarked on costly renovations. This lavish spending, combined with the economic decline of sailing ships in favor of steamships, led the Granlund family to bankruptcy.

Marela House Today

Since 1982, Marela House has been operated by the Rauma Museum as a cultural-historical home museum. It offers a glimpse into the opulent daily life of a wealthy merchant and shipowner family at the turn of the 20th century. In a surprising twist, while the home is furnished to reflect the Granlund family's lifestyle, none of the items are their original belongings. Instead, the collection was meticulously acquired based on a precise bankruptcy list created when the family lost their fortune, allowing for an accurate recreation of their domestic environment.