Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

A Log Cabin Kit Home Pops Up at the Edge of a Lake in Southern Finland

A Log Cabin Kit Home Pops Up at the Edge of a Lake in Southern Finland

Prefab builder Pluspuu erects a rustic yet refined retreat an hour’s drive from Helsinki.

Since 2017, Pluspuu has delivered svelte-yet-woodsy prefabs that clean up the rough edges of the log cabin typology. Their models recently caught the attention of a Finnish couple who, after relocating to Switzerland six years ago, wanted to build a retreat in their hometown of Heinola where they could return to on holidays.

Knowing they wouldn’t be using it most of the year, homeowners Otto Lepistö and Elina Hunnakko selected a design from Pluspuu that could serve their own family as well as renters looking for private access to Finland’s unspoiled archipelago. "We didn’t want the interiors to be too refined, but still wanted them to feel stylish," says Elina. "Pluspuu’s models are very modern and fresh when compared to the appearance of traditional timber houses, which tend to be very heavy and old fashioned."

Pluspuu offers 12 home designs, plus a couple different saunas to pair them with. Elina and Otto selected the Iniö model, which appears feather-light on the land, and carries the fine detail of a plume.

Set beneath a black gable with extended eaves, the two-level, three-bedroom home features an airy, loft-like interior, soft wood finishes in birch and pine, 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room and dining area, and wraparound decking. "Windows on three sides of the living room make it feel as though you are outside-you can experience all four seasons very intimately," says Elina.



Twenty-foot-tall ceilings and huge windows connect indoors with out. A wood-burning fireplace centers the living-and-dining area.



A view from the kitchen out toward the living area provides a sense of the lofted interior.



From the living area, a winding staircase leads to the second level with an additional living space and two guest rooms.



The kitchen is designed to prioritize open floor space, which gives owners Elina and Otto options while entertaining.

The home itself is comprised of column-and-beam, non-settling log structures and cross-laminated timber panels. Pluspuu developed the building system in collaboration with Ollikaisen Hirsirakenne Oy-a builder based in Pirkanmaa, Central Finland, with more than 40 years’ experience in log house construction.

Eight-inch-thick spruce logs and wood fiber insulation help maintain ideal indoor temperatures and humidity, which is critical when homes are built in subzero climates (Pluspuu’s designs can go to -30 Celsius, or -22 Fahrenheit). The houses can be warmed with geothermal heating, and triple-glazed windows ensure proper insulation.



The first-level hallway leads out from the bathroom and bedroom to the living area.



A bathroom stands opposite the principal bedroom on the first level.



The bedroom showcases the cross-laminated timber logs used by Pluspuu, which have mitered edges for a softer look. The home-like all of Pluspuu’s models-features triple-glazed windows that provide insulation in a wide variety of climates.



The stairs are comprised of a twisting metal frame and wooden steps.



The second level showcases the ceiling’s rimakatto finish. The battens soften the home’s appearance while improving acoustics.
Courtesy of Pluspuu

With each of Pluspuu’s models, clients can request subtle tweaks for something more bespoke. "Our home is unique because it features a ‘rimakatto’ ceiling," says Elina. "It’s a Finnish word that means covered with battens in a Scandinavian style. It softens the appearance and improves acoustics."

Just down from the home toward the water, a sauna building by Pluspuu was built on the foundation of an old cottage. It accommodates a party of eight, and provides views out over the lake. Nearby, a hot tub accommodates 10. "If it’s winter," says Elina, "guests can go skinny dipping, and then jump in the hot tub."



A view down from the top of the stairs provides a sense of the ground floor’s configuration.



Off the second-level living area are two adjacent guest rooms.



A look inside one of the guest rooms provides a closer look at the rimakatto ceiling. The home’s interior is finished in locally sourced birch and pine.



On the second level is another bathroom.



Elina and Otto paired their Iniö model with a sauna from Pluspuu and an adjacent hot tub that sit just down a path beyond the home. In winter months, guests can skinny dip before warming up again.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×