Wave House by Seppo Mäntylä is a Finnish log house with a twist

Architects often say that projects can become testing grounds or in some ways, provide experimentation and inspiration for the next big commission. Finnish architect Seppo Mäntylä has put these words into practice with his latest residential offering, Wave House. 

The striking residence sits perched on a green slope by a lake, in the country’s tree-filled countryside, in the town of Mikkeli. Its design however, with its sweeping curves and large glazed expanses, was originally conceived for an earlier project in Moscow; a similar dwelling on a steep site orientated towards a captivating view. 

Sadly, that work never materialised, but it wasn’t without its supporters. ‘Mikko Vainionpää, the owner of house supplier Polarlifehaus Ltd, loved the design and showed a wooden scale model to everybody he met and people were amazed about the design’, recalls Mäntylä. ‘One of his friends was so amazed and crazy enough that he decided to build the house and the new plot was a perfect match with the wave house design.’ 

Many things needed to be redesigned and adapted inside the house, in order for this to become a reality, but the original concept and shape remained the same. Now, Wave House is the remarkable home for a small family. 

The unusual shape and dramatic curves of the pine wood, single-level structure was inspired by motoring design, says the architect. However, the relationship of the house’s volume and openings and the surrounding nature was a key driver for Mäntylä. Creating the building out of timber was a big engineering challenge, but the captivating experience of walking through its carefully placed rooms makes up for it. 

A large, open-plan living area is situated towards the lake views, opening up into a generous cantilevered terrace. When the weather allows, it is always populated. The same views are shared with the master bedroom; more bedrooms are located on the other end of the long plan, overlooking the forest, while a sauna with a fully glazed wall ensures the signature Finnish pastime is experienced in direct visual contact with the beautiful natural surroundings.

INFORMATION

For more information visit the website (opens in new tab) of Seppo Mäntylä Architecture