ST201902

Shades of grey, in the
graphic steel staircase,
the comfy Arne
Jacobsen chair and the
living area fireplace, tie
the look of the whole
house together

“

W

e wanted a home that

was cosy and

contemporary,” says

Marjo of the house

she shares with

partner Eetu in

Mikkeli, Finland. “A timber house that didn’t feel

rough and ready but modern.”

“And it had to fit into the landscape,” says Etuu.

“The plot was beside Lake Saimaa and surrounded

by t rees, so we wa nted to be able to see a ll t hat f rom

inside.” To make their dream a reality, the couple

approached Honka, a building company that

specialises in log houses that can be customised

according to clients’ requirements.

Building a timber house in Finland is not unusual;

wood is a traditional building material, thanks to

huge amounts of forested land – 70% of the country

is covered by trees. The Finns are well aware of the

benefits of building with wood: it has a dampening

effect on noise, and absorbs moisture, then releases

it back into the air as the room dries, which is good

for humidity levels, and helps the house to breathe.

What was different was the couple’s approach.

A NEW TAKE ON TRADITION

The two-storeyed house with its steeply pitched

roof, black exterior, open-plan living area, wood-

burning stoves and sauna, was inspired by Danish

timber architecture, but that was where any notion

of a traditional log cabin ended. Inside, Etuu and

Marjo used a combination of natural materials –

wood, stone, linen, sheepskin – and concrete to

create a fresh take on a timber home.

Although the couple had a clear idea of what they

wanted, they worked with interior stylist Jonna

Kivilahti on paint and material choices. Downstairs,

most timber walls were left bare, and the grey of the »

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