Kimito Island Municipality, Finland
Conceived by Aleksi Hautamäki and Milla Selkimäki of Oy Lunawood Ltd., Project Ö is based on an island in the archipelago of Finland. It was bought by a husband-and-wife team designing and building from scratch a unique spot for themselves to escape.
Project Ö Cabin won a recent 2021 Green Good Design® Award from The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum.
The search for the location itself took five years, and now the project aim is to create a one-of-a-kind home in the middle of the ruggedly beautiful archipelago during the next few years.
The wood-based design features sustainable Thermowood from Finland by Lunawood.
The design principles followed the principles of responsible and sustainable development: all the necessary functions had to be obtained in the smallest possible area.
The two buildings are only 70 sqm in size. All individual spaces are designed to be as compact as possible without compromising functionality and comfort.
The complex consists of, a living space, a kitchen, bedroom, and a washing room/sauna, of course.
The couple’s goal was to find minimalist, high-quality wood materials that follow Finnish design to ensure the highest possible quality result with a low need for maintenance.
The climate of the archipelago is harsh, so excellent weather resistance was an absolute requirement for all materials.
The shape of the buildings is long and narrow, allowing for large window surfaces with versatile views, as well as opportunities for very different types of activities at opposite ends of the building.
The building has a log frame.
Log houses are usually characterized by thick horizontal logs, giving away a certain kind of feeling.
The designers wanted something a little more modern, with thin upright wood cladding, which is irregular and not even, so it just blends in.
The end result is a modern yet modest family house, creating a safe and cozy atmosphere for the owners and, due to its timeless design, leveraging all available space.
The aim was to find visually and functionally suitable wood material for the exterior cladding, terraces, and interiors to achieve the perfect outcome. The absolute requirement was that the exterior materials withstand the harsh weather and respect the modern and minimalistic design.
The designers were familiar with Lunawood and had seen the eco-friendly manufacturing process live at Lunawood Iisalmi Mill in Finland. As planned, Lunawood Thermowood is very smooth, scarp, it’s lightweight to carry and has enough variety for all designers and architects.
Thermally modified timber has a beautiful brown tone, which does not necessarily need any maintenance.
If it is left untreated, the Thermowood naturally weathers over time to beautiful silver-gray patina.
Project: Project Ö Cabin
Architects: Aleksi Hautamäki and Milla Selkimäki, Oy Lunawood Ltd.
Photographer: Marc Goodwin