Sanaksenaho Architects' latest house in Finland is small but perfectly formed

House K in Finland — House K, designed by Sanaksenaho Architects, is a new addition to the housing stock of Espoo, the Finnish city just outside Helsinki. Photography: Tuomas Uusheimo

(Image credit: Tuomas Uusheimo)

Sitting lightly in a densely built up region in Espoo, Finland, House K is a lesson in how to get a lot from a little. Sanaksenaho Architects' latest residential offering sits on a rocky, woody hillside, subtly standing out with its bright white render, contrasted and softened by the wooden accents of the window frames, bridge and decking.

Transforming a small, overlooked plot into a spacious and peaceful haven, the architects combated the proximity of neighbouring houses by designing an inward facing structure, planned around a sheltered triangular courtyard. House K's seemingly small profile opens up to reveal a surprisingly spacious, open plan design, where various cut outs in the ceiling play with the volume of the rooms to create a bright and airy feeling.

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Despite being the narrowest point of the house, the entrance is bathed in grandeur with a double height ceiling and views onto the terrace beyond. Similarly, the downstairs living area benefits from extra ceiling height, lit up by a long, narrow window; a contrast to the more intimate kitchen area. The staircase is suspended from the ceiling on steel rods, eliminating the need for a clumsy, boxed in balustrade and turning a key structural element into a piece of design. 'We wanted to keep the staircase as open as possible, and our inspiration came from a musical instrument with its delicate, elegant wires' explains architect Pirjo Sanaksenaho. Crafted out of thin wood, the staircase floats effortlessly without encroaching on the living room space and a bright skylight positioned directly above further emphasises the levity of the structure.

A change in floor material from the grey concrete downstairs to a soft wood upstairs indicates a transition from a public entertaining space to a more private family area. The timber creates a cosy feel to the bedrooms, whilst reflecting the forest setting. A top-lit bathroom creates a calm and meditative space and this sense of tranquillity is continued in the bedrooms, where the wooden frame of a corner window is pushed outwards to provide a place to reflect and contemplate, allowing the owners to literally sit amongst the treetops. Upstairs a wooden bridge reaches out and links the two, otherwise isolated, wings of the house, whilst also providing a second more private outside area which offers a different perspective of the landscape beyond.

With various windows cut out of the walls whichever way you turn, the architects have transformed a small, cramped plot into a deceptively spacious home, where light and the weightlessness of materials and structure is to be celebrated.

House K with terrace decking and wood framed windows — The house stands out elegantly within its suburban tree-filled surroundings through its striking geometry and crisp white render. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

House K with deck and wooden bridge — The clean white impression is softened by cleverly placed wooden details on the window frames, a covered bridge and terrace decking. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

House K interior with grey concrete floors and wooden stairs — The interior design is open plan and features grey polished concrete floors on the ground floor, which includes the house's main living, kitchen and dining spaces, as well as a study and utility rooms. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Wooden stairs to upper floor — The inward-looking house is designed around a triangular courtyard that sits at its heart, preserving the owners’ privacy while filling the interiors with light. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

House K with round skylight and large windows — Various cuts on the ceilings and wall openings play with the volumes and help create a bright and airy feel inside. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Living area with double volume height and grey polished floor — A generous double height living room is contrasted by a more intimate kitchen space. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Wooden floors on upper floor — Upstairs, a change in the floor material - from concrete to wood - marks the transition into the house’s more private areas; it also reflects the forest setting. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Bedroom with window shutters and black and white bedding — The house’s upper floor hosts its three bedrooms, as well as bathrooms for the family. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Childs bedroom with bookshelf and toys — The master suite is joint by two smaller bedrooms for the children. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Bathroom with black mosaic tiles and white basin — A top-lit bathroom attached to the master bedroom creates a calm and meditative space. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*

Wooden staircase suspended from ceiling with steel rods — The staircase is suspended from the ceiling on steel rods. *Photography:* *Tuomas Uusheimo*