Curved lines in a modern log villa on the shore of Lake Päijänne

Curved cove, curved villa. Built on the shores of Lake Päijänne, this family holiday home is an architectural whole where nature and construction follow the same line, soft curves and a calm rhythm.

Stumbling upon a dream plot

Finding a large, sheltered plot of land on the shore of Lake Päijänne is a rare treat, as it usually takes years of searching. In this case, the dream plot came naturally: the grandparents already had a cottage on a neighbouring plot.

The plot, over 5,000 square metres of land on the shores of Lake Päijänne, offered plenty of permitted building volume. The old cottage was demolished and replaced by a 200 m², two-storey log villa, a yard sauna and a stable building. The timber surface was treated to give it its black colour and the wide grassy courtyard between the lake and the buildings tie the whole harmoniously into the landscape.

Life on the water

The holiday home is designed for active free time: a tennis court, ping-pong table, large terrace and private jetty make the shore of Lake Päijänne the perfect summer oasis.

For the family's children, the best moment is when they see their grandparents come to their own cottage on a neighbouring plot. The girls immediately jump on their bicycles and pedal off to greet them. Even though the grandparent's cottage is withing walking distance, the girls cannot wait that long and take their bicycles.

Architecture where every detail is intentional

The building project was embarked on with exceptional ambition. Avarrus Arkkitehdit, SAFA architects Niilo Ikonen and Meri Murto, designed both the buildings and the interior details. The aim was to create a coherent, architectural and artistic whole in which architecture, materials and landscape interact with each other.

The Lake Päijänne curves into the plot and its shape also inspired the building: the villa, known as Kaaripoukama, repeats the curved motif. The roof of the upper floor is asymmetrically curved, and the wavy end balcony emphasises the organic shape of the building.

Light, space and views

The villa has two full floors and views of the lake can be seen from almost every room. The ground floor is dedicated to living together as a family; a large kitchen-living room, angled utility rooms and a glazed balcony running parallel to the living room create a varied but spacious floor plan.

Upstairs are the bedrooms and a second living area. The master bedroom has its own walk-in closet and a balcony with a magnificent view of Lake Päijänne.

A separate, 25 m² sauna building also serves as a guest house. In addition to the fireplace and washing facilities, it has a fireplace room and a loft that can easily accommodate a couple of overnight guests. Black walls and sauna benches make the atmosphere extra special on winter evenings.

Harmony of natural materials

Wood is the main element in the villa: log walls, CLT partition walls, Arkki plywood roof and Karavan Kallio panels form a harmonious whole. The floors are Finnish oak parquet and the stairs are custom-made by master carpenter Tingander.

The interior combines warm wooden surfaces and modern design. A brick fireplace designed by Avarrus Architects is the eye-catcher of the living room. It is built with Spartherm fireplace core and Tiiler bricks.

The large island kitchen is made by Puustelli. Behind the cabinet wall is a door to the pantry, a fully integrated and discreet solution.

Light and plenty of space

The height of the living room (2.8 m) and the large windows provide an abundance of light. There's enough seats for a large group, and every sofa has a view of the lake.

Upstairs in the lobby is another lounge where you can relax without losing the view of Lake Päijänne. On a summer evening, nothing beats the natural scenery.

The curved villa in Kaaripoukama is an example of how log construction can be modern, impressive and deeply rooted in nature at the same time.