Embedded in pristine natural environment surrounded by bedrocks, cliffs, and typical archipelago vegetation
Two recreational buildings on a secluded island in the Finnish archipelago
“A house on a terrace, a house on a jetty” are two recreational buildings on a secluded island in the Finnish archipelago between Finland and Sweden. The cottages are embedded in pristine natural environment surrounded by bedrocks, cliffs, and typical archipelago vegetation. The aim was to construct two modest but well-equipped & comfortable recreational units that offer the client a spacious yet efficient holiday home with a minimal footprint.
On the inside, all-natural materials are bright and warm, either in wood, brass, or stone with solitary furniture in wood with leather upholstery or textiles in warm tones. All materials used outside for facades, terraces, and fixtures are galvanized, brushed stainless steel or wood that will patinate into silver grey over time almost dissolving into the tones of the visually dominant bedrock on the island.
Seamless connection between in- and outside
The Guest House sits on top of a generous terrace placed above the terrain and consists of a private and social zone of four rooms. It sits on top of the bedrock on the island with stunning views over the waterfront and archipelago.
The flexible planned social zone consists of an efficient space for cooking, dining, and relaxing with a custom-made kitchen. The space can be reconfigured for various purposes depending on the number of guests and planned activities. The floor-to-ceiling windows are oriented towards the forest in the north on the central part of the island and south waterfront overlooking the Baltic Sea of Åland creating a seamless connection between in- and outside.
On the edge between land and sea offering a seamless view of the bay and everchanging water landscape
When designing and planning the placement of the Sauna Cottage the client wished to be able to view the water surface and waterline closely, almost like you were sitting on top of the water surface. The Sauna Cottage lies literary on the edge between land and sea offering a seamless view of the bay and everchanging water landscape. This was achieved using reinforced, concrete, and galvanized steel columns with a concrete reinforced base frame covered in local stones from the island. The sauna space consists of an outdoor shower, anteroom, and sauna with generous floor to ceiling panoramic window with stunning views. The anteroom also contains specially designed furniture and seating with additional storage and laundry facilities.
Finnish pine wood both on the in- and outside
Both cottages are constructed entirely in Finnish pine wood both on the in- and outside. Over time the outside will patinate into silver grey and the inside will stand as a warm wood tone. This holiday home offers down-to-earth indulgence for friends and family with building typologies reminiscent traditional Finnish summer cottages yet being contemporary and timeless.
To obtain a subtitle integrated path network on the island without taking too much focus, paths in stone gravel of local character are establishing with specially designed light posts that directs the light toward the paths obscuring the light toward the untouched landscape.
Project images
