Domus Litonii, Commercial building in Kluuvi, Finland
Domus Litonii is a three-story building at Aleksanterinkatu 50 designed in the Empire style, consisting of a main section and a lower bazaar wing. Inside, commercial spaces, offices, and homes occupy the floors, while the basement holds 13 vaulted storage rooms for merchants and residents.
The building was commissioned in 1847 by Jonas Litonius, a successful master draper. It remains the only surviving 19th-century residential structure in central Helsinki still owned by the original family.
The building takes its name from Jonas Litonius, the master draper who commissioned it. Today, the mix of shops, offices, and homes on its floors reflects how Helsinki residents once blended work and daily life in the same structure.
The building is viewable as part of Helsinki's streetscape and clearly displays the architecture of its era from the outside. Visitors should note that some areas remain private, so it is best to appreciate the exterior facade and any accessible public spaces.
The building featured an advanced water system for its time, drawing from an internal well before the city offered piped water service. This self-sufficient infrastructure allowed residents and merchants to operate independently from urban utilities.
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