The Sumelius Building is a four-storey residential and commercial block on the eastern side of Keskustori, the Central Square of Tampere. Completed in 1901 for merchant Gösta Sumelius and designed by the Helsinki-based firm Grahn, Hedman & Wasastjerna, it represents an elegant blend of late historicism and the emerging Art Nouveau style in Finland. The corner lot, small tower, rich ornamentation and round-arched portals recall older revivalist architecture, while the asymmetrical façade, etched glass windows, decorative wall panelling and tiled stoves (described in architectural notes) clearly point towards early Jugend / Art Nouveau. At the turn of the 20th century the building housed shops, offices and apartments and helped frame Central Square as a representative urban centre rather than just an industrial town built around mills.
Today the Sumelius Building remains a protected architectural landmark and a key part of Tampere’s cityscape. Ground floors are occupied by commercial units, offices, cafés and restaurants, while upper floors host a mix of residential and business premises, so the house feels very much alive. Architecture enthusiasts and photographers stop here to capture the corner façade from different angles, study details like window frames, portals and roofline, and then continue towards the Tammerkoski rapids or the Finlayson Area just a short walk away. In many city guides and online reviews it is highlighted as a must-see building for anyone interested in early 20th-century architecture in Finland, and it consistently receives a strong rating as one of the most distinctive façades on Tampere’s Central Square.
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