Sommarnöjen’s tiny summer home built for the House by an Architect exhibition has all the essentials – and loads of character
This summer the Fiskars village in Southern Finland hosts the House by an Architect exhibition, introducing a range of miniature houses. The exhibition is open until the beginning of September.
THE SMALL COTTAGE, dressed in the same vibrant green hue as its surroundings, has settled on a meadow in the center of Fiskars village, with a background of old trees typical of the area. It's impossible not to amuse yourself and imagine yourself as Alice in Wonderland, observing at a little green house familiar from the Monopoly board game.
That's exactly how archetypal the shape of the Sommar 30 cottage from the Swedish company Sommarnöjen is – and that's exactly how magical and playful the space is. The light, airy and unequivocally summery ensemble is apt for creating unforgettable summer memories. Artek Helsinki's interior designer Joanna Amemori has designed the interior of the cabin, using primarily Artek Helsinki's product range for furnishing and decoration.
The Sommar 30 mini house by the Swedish company Sommarnöjen is a steel-reinforced CLT wooden building. The all-green cottage lends its shape from a traditional barn and is perfected with a beautiful clapboard roof.
There is an entrance to the living room and kitchen combination. The cabin's two exits enable free and carefree travel to nature and back. The multipurpose Aalto stools can be piled up to save space.
There is access via a ladder to the mezzanine floor from the living room, where you'll find more sleeping space. The height of String Furniture's Museum side table can be easily adjusted. The Paimio armchair is by Artek and the Wiggle stool is by Vitra.
A soft summer breeze enters the room. The combination of pastel hues and earthy tones is irresistibly fresh. Finarte's Kvartsi rug was created by design duo Juslin Maunula.
The inside space throws itself in a dialogue with the environment, and the interior is just as carefree and light as a meadow swayed by the wind. Soft and tender tones have been carefully and skilfully selected to support the light-colored walls and maintain the lightness of the whole – which has also been taken into consideration when choosing the shapes and sizes of the furniture for the interior. Space has been left for air and light.
The interior of the cabin is just as carefree and light as a meadow swayed by the wind.
The cottage's kitchen is located in the living room. The whole – which fits beautifully into the space – offers enough storage space for summer living and a delightful setting for making both a potato salad and a pavlova.
Joanna Amemori designed the interior using a color palette of delicate tones. Aalto K65 chairs and the A330S ceiling lamp are by Artek, the 007 Alter mirror by Vaarnii, the table by Zanotta and the artwork on the wall by Heidi Lampenius, Helsinki Contemporary. The wooden bird sitting on the window sill is L'Oiseau, designed by the Bouroullec brothers.
Dressed in delightful pastel hues, the Aalto K65 chairs can be slid under the counter when not in use. Vitra's Vases Découpage collection is by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
Don't let the small size fool you, because the CLT-built cabin contains everything essential and more. Thirty square meters can accommodate a bright living room with an integrated kitchen, a toilet and shower room, a separate bedroom with storage space, and an additional bedroom in the mezzanine floor. The cabin is also equipped with a dishwasher and a washing machine.
Upstairs in the mezzanine, you'll have the sweetest summer dreams in the linen bedclothes by Lapuan Kankurit, sheltered by the gable roof. The Akari 1A table lamp was designed by Isamu Noguchi.
The cottage has a spacious toilet and shower room, which is closed with a sliding door to save space.
Charming details add character to the interior of the charismatic little cabin. The Siena pouches are adorned with a graphic print by Alvar Aalto. The 124° mirror is by Artek and the Nuage Céramique vase by Vitra.
The sleeping area located on the other side of the building can be separated from the rest of the space into it's own little nook with the help of a sliding door. Two people can easily spend a summer at the cabin and if everyone is feeling quite amicable, there is even room for two more – at least temporarily.
Soft and tender tones have been carefully and skilfully selected to support the light-colored walls and maintain the lightness of the whole.
The architecturally modest house is inspired by the shape of a traditional barn. Made of natural materials, the cabin is perfected with a wooden roof, which is finished in the same green shade as the exterior walls.
One of the entrances leads directly to the bedroom. If necessary, the sleeping area located at the other end of the house can be closed off with the help of a sliding door. The Kaari wall shelves and Tupla wall hooks are Artek's, and the Wiggle chair by Frank Gehry is Vitra's. The light robe is by Juslin Maunula.
A carefully considered lighting is key when designing a smaller space. The A910 wall lamps are part of Artek's range.
Both current and future classics have been beautifully combined in the decoration of the cottage. All the apartment's furniture and decor items are part of Artek Helsinki's selection. Painting by Heidi Lampenius, Helsinki Contemporary.
A deep green hue connects the building with its lush surroundings. Vitra's Landi chairs, designed by Hans Coray, are perfect for both indoors and out.
Sommarnöjen's cottage is part of the Fiskars Biennale exhibition House by an Architect. The exhibition, which is open until the beginning of September, features a range of miniature houses, all of which are built with wood and have a living area of no more than 30 square meters.
In a couple of years, it should be possible to build mini-houses in Finland exempted from the current building permit procedures – we will surely see more and more clever, small houses in the future.
See also:
• Asun Homes Vol 4 -bookazine >
• All products by Artek >
This story was originally published in the Asun magazine's issue 03/22.
Text: Hanna-Katariina Mononen Images: Sameli Rantanen
Published on 15 Jul, 2022
