A new chapter for a beloved family villa: “Preserving the house’s original atmosphere was essential”

Built by their grandfather in Helsinki’s Munkkiniemi district, this cherished family villa has found new life as a home for a blended family of seven. Here, old traditions are honored, and new ones are joyfully created.

ACCORDING TO family lore, Aino and Alvar Aalto had their say when architect Dag Englund began designing a residential building on the neighboring plot of their Munkkiniemi home in the late 1940s. The original builders had envisioned bedroom windows on the top floor facing west, toward the evening sun. However, out of respect for their neighbors’ privacy, they abandoned the idea at their request.

Without this passed-down story, no one would likely give much thought to the “missing” windows. Instead of dwelling on what could have been, the current residents – now the third generation in the home – appreciate the house’s thoughtful architecture and carefully crafted details, which provide both a functional and beautiful setting for their blended family’s life.

Three years ago, the childhood home – and previously the grandmother’s house – of the current owner became the residence of a blended family. However, moving into the home built by his grandparents was not an obvious choice.

“The house was deeply familiar to me and, of course, dear to my heart, but I had never imagined living here myself.”

“I never dreamed of owning a mansion or a house of my own. Before my spouse and I decided to move here together, I was actually looking for an apartment in downtown Helsinki. This house was deeply familiar and, of course, dear to me, but I had never imagined living here myself. To me, it had always been my childhood home and my grandparents’ house, and my parents’ home as well. So I never truly saw its uniqueness,” he explains.

Still, the couple recognized the home’s potential and envisioned how they could shape it to reflect their own style while preserving its original atmosphere.

THE HOME'S FIRST residents, a family with four children, are immortalized in a relief by the main entrance, where the current owner’s mother is depicted as a small child sitting on her own mother’s lap. From the start, the house was designed for a large family. It was also intended to serve as a representative home, blending private and social spaces seamlessly. The top floor was reserved for the family’s private quarters, while the dining room, living room, and downstairs bar provided a setting for entertaining. The owner’s grandfather, a business executive in the asphalt and construction industry, frequently hosted guests here.

The grandfather was an aesthete. The home’s original interior design was his creation.

“My grandfather worked in what was considered a very male-dominated field in postwar Finland. But he was also an aesthete, and the home’s original interior design was entirely his vision. He meticulously defined the function of each space and personally selected the furniture. After his passing, the house was no longer used for entertaining,” his grandchild explains.

Today, in its new era, this welcoming home has once again become a lively setting for gatherings and celebrations with friends.

After an extensive renovation, the home now breathes and adapts to the present while still honoring its past in many ways. The remodel preserved as much of the original structure and details as was reasonable and practical. However, the couple was keen to avoid a museum-like feel. Staying true to their strong vision, they opted for black wood veneer and modern brass-framed cabinets in the kitchen, bringing a contemporary touch to the space.

The layout was also thoughtfully adjusted. For instance, the former library was transformed into the parents’ bedroom. Meanwhile, the basement sauna area was redesigned to better accommodate the needs of their seven-member family.

Englund’s architecture reflects influences from various styles, ranging from the soft functionalism of the 1930s to the aesthetics of the 1950s. The grandfather’s refined taste – and especially his admiration for Aino and Alvar Aalto’s Villa Mairea – is evident in many of the home’s original details. This is particularly apparent in the warm and inviting living and dining rooms, where rattan-covered lattices and wood-paneled ceilings echo the renowned masterpiece. Villa Mairea also comes to mind in the kidney-shaped swimming pool in the garden, which, according to family records, was last used before the renovation in the 1950s.

“I never met my grandfather, but I feel connected to him because we have once again filled the house with life. That is the most rewarding part of it all.”

See also:

• New arrivals at Finnish Design Shop >

Text: Selina Vienola Images: Paavo Lehtonen

Featured products may not be available worldwide. This story was published in the Asun magazine’s issue 49.