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| Fri 21 Nov 2008 |
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Tag: Finland
These items have all been tagged with the tag "Finland", You can see other tags in the Tag Cloud| Humlegård House - Braving The Elements |
| 2008-06-12 06:10:30 |
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Humlegård House is the stark-looking, year-round residence of a former Finnish TV documentary producer. He moved to this house, located in the town of Fiskars, 78 kilometers west of Helsinki, from a central-Helsinki heritage apartment. Many aspects of Humlegård, especially its placement to respond to the forces of nature, resemble the owner’s childhood home, a large country manor in central Finland. Designed by Kimmo Friman of Friman Laaksonen Architects of Helsinki, Humlegård House is situated on a small, flat hill so that the north-south line runs diagonally through the building. This is the traditional way of placing a building so that it functions optimally as an energy efficient and comfortable dwelling in the harsh, Finnish climate. Protection from the wind and maximum use of sunlight are primary considerations, and the placement of rooms is as much dependent on how much the room needs heat and daylight as it is on how the residents use each space. The floor plan resembles the layout of a traditional peasant farmhouse, split lengthwise into two. The house consists of three multi-function areas: two large living rooms linked by a loft with a bathroom and walk-in closet below. In a typically Finnish fashion, the building appears simple, stark and utilitarian yet exudes a harmonious and stylish form & function sensibility. The owner and architect selected each building material carefully, opting for traditional, natural materials. “I did not want materials of which we did not have decades of experience,” said the owner. Horizontal spruce board – left untreated for maximum structure breathability -- is the main feature of the interior. The spruce-clad outer facade weathers into a beautiful gray color that matches the stark surroundings. The east-facing facade is clad with galvanized corrugated-steel that protects the wall from rain and sun and also reflects excessive sun away in the summer. The placement of windows was determined by the requirements of the interior spaces. A separate, tiny log sauna, also designed by Friman, was built later east of the main building. By Tuija Seipell |
| The Mill |
| 2008-03-07 11:00:35 |
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People have paddled since time immemorial although the gear today is much different from what it was in ancient times. Soon we will also see a new type of rest and overnight shelter specifically for canoeists that will take advantage of the water as a power source yet retain a pristine and timeless peacefulness. Finnish architect and artist Sami Rintala, together with architecture student Janne Saario, has created The Mill, a modern wilderness hut that will be located in the Halikko river in south western Finland, near the town of Salo, mid-way between Helsinki and Turku. The wooden shelter even includes fireplaces and sleeping platforms and the waterwheel in the middle of the stream produces the energy for use in the shelter. To be completed in the fall of 2008, The Mill is part of Halikonlahti Green Art Trilogy, which in turn is part of an ongoing multi-year "Cross-artistic and Scientific Environmental Event" The 39-year-old Rintala has created experimental and environmentally sustainable installations and experimental buildings all over the world, form the Scandinavian countries to Cuba, Canada, Japan and Korea. By Tuija Seipell |
| Kakslauttanen Hotel - Finland |
| 2008-02-05 16:09:57 |
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When you tire of the endless sandy beaches and azure waters of warm climates, but you are not quite ready for space travel, head to Lapland for a dramatic, mystical getaway. The snow igloos that pop up each winter to complement the 20 spectacular glass igloos and 31 luxury log cabins at Kakslauttanen resort in Saariselkä, Finland, are definitely cool in all meanings of the word. You can lie in your bed under the glass ceiling of your glass igloo, cozily covered by thick down duvets, and watch the snow fall gently in the light-blue air of the endless night. It is surreal and magical. You actually do forget that it is cold and, in fact, you are not cold. The duvets and clothing provided ensure that you are really feeling cozy. There is also a snow chapel, the world’s largest snow restaurant for 150 people, a Finnish traditional smoke sauna, an eight-meter-tall glass tepee (designed to resemble the typical Lapp tepee called kota) for cocktail parties under the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights, revontulet in Finnish), and a honeymoon suite or two. You guessed, it, this place is hugely popular for fairytale winter weddings. Snowmobile safaris, ice swimming and other frisky activities will keep you and your guests entertained for days! You can start your Finnish lessons with Hyvää päivää, which means hello, or literally, “have a good day.” By Tuija Seipell |
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