THE HOUSE AND OUTBUILDINGS
History and Today
BUILT WITH HANDS, FILLED WITH CULTURE
The main house on the property represents the finest example of northern Finnish log architecture – honest, resilient, and built to last. Its frame was hewn from Arctic pine in 1905 and originally stood in the village of Marrasjärvi, near Rovaniemi.
Because much of Lapland’s traditional building stock was lost in the aftermath of war, log structures of this age are exceptionally rare in the region. The preservation of this one makes it a true find.
In 1985, the building was carefully dismantled and relocated to the northern shore of Lake Kätkäjärvi in 1985. The reconstruction was executed with such craftsmanship and care that it received the Hurrikas award for architectural heritage from the Province of Lapland in 1989.
From those times, this house has been more than just a home. It has been inhabited by people deeply rooted in Finland’s cultural life. The first residents to live here in Muonio were journalists and documentary makers, who used the outbuildings for editing radio programs and films – back when tape was still cut by hand and spliced on light tables.
Later, the tradition continued: the next generation of owners included a multidisciplinary cultural figure – a photographer, writer and producer who scripted an opera, curated classical music festivals, and contributed to film and journalism. He too worked in these same studio spaces, and the atmosphere of quiet creation remains.
And then, there is the music.
The great main room has always been a space for shared sound: piano recitals, intimate concerts, seasonal sing-alongs. Over the years, the house has welcomed classical musicians and renowned performers.
It has hosted Christmas carols and chamber ensembles. On one of many unforgettable occasion, violinist Pekka Kuusisto performed Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons here with his string ensemble – a performance later featured in a television documentary.
CONDITION & STRUCTUTRE
The log frame, foundations and roof structure are in good condition. The building has a ventilated crawl space (traditional Finnish rossipohja) and a two-story layout that allows for both generous shared spaces and peaceful bedrooms. Over time, the natural settling of the structure has been professionally corrected and reinforced.
INTERIOR ATMOSPHERE
The interiors preserve the authentic character of a traditional log home, while offering modern touches for comfort and function. The heart of the ground floor is a massive central fireplace, and the rooms breathe around it. Upstairs, you’ll find two bedrooms, a reading alcove, a balcony, and a cozy nook for sleeping or solitude.
OUTBUILDINGS
The second largest building on the property is a log structure from the 1940s, originally built to house evacuees during wartime and relocated here from the west coast of Finland. It contains a full workshop, a single-car garage, and two heated studio rooms. Over the decades, this building has been used as a film-editing suite, a darkroom, and a creative workspace – and it’s ready for the next chapter, whatever shape it takes.
GRANARY
There is also a traditional log granary, moved to the site in the late 1980s. With its hand-carved timber and compact size, it offers charming possibilities as a summer guesthouse, seasonal storage space, or firewood shed.
Sauna & Shoreline
The Sauna – A Ritual of Heat and Stillness
Down a short path, tucked beneath the trees, waits a true Finnish treasure: a lakeside, wood-heated sauna with no electricity, no plumbing, and absolutely nothing to distract you from the moment.
Water is carried in from the lake. Firewood is split by hand. The stove is lit, slowly. You sit in silence and listen to the gentle crackle and hiss of steam rising from the stones. Time stretches.
On the terrace, towels steam in the air while stories are told, sausages are grilled, and people write thoughts and sketches in the sauna guestbook – a growing collection of quiet memories, shared joy and deep breaths.
Children and adults alike spend hours here, together, yet fully at ease. Many guests have said it’s one of the best sauna experiences of their lives.
We believe them.
The Shore – Simple Pleasures, Rich in Feeling
The sauna stands just steps from the lake, connected by a wooden boardwalk that leads to a private pier and a sandy-bottom swimming area. The shoreline is shallow enough for children to wade and play safely – and clear enough to see the sun flicker on the lakebed stones.
There is a fire pit by the shore for grilling, storytelling, or just watching the embers glow as the evening deepens.
A pair of rowboats wait by the dock, ready for fishing trips, setting nets, or early morning stillness on the water. Paddleboards drift out when the weather is calm. And in midsummer, when the sun circles low along the southern sky, the lake glows in a way that makes you forget what time it is – or care.