Sustainable house in the Finnish countryside.

The architects in the Finnish firm Avanto Architects Ltd designed a country villa which embodies the very core of sustainability where modern life conveniences are set aside to benefit the environment and tranquillity.



Built on an island in the middle of a lake in Finland, this villa was created as a sustainable rural house.





Unlike traditional Finnish houses, electrically heated all year round to avoid water pipe freezing in winter, this is a zero emission building thanks to the Avanto Architects’ planning decisions: no running water, electricity produced by solar energy and the use of wood, exclusively from the nearby forest, for the heating.



Maximum use is made of natural light as it follows the inhabitants’ routine from east to west by hitting the right place at the right time from breakfast till after dinner.



The terraces are covered to reduce overheating in summer while passive solar energy is used in winter. French-windows open out onto these terraces creating a link between the interior and external areas.





Dark wood cladding strikes a contrast with the bright, white interiors and also helps integrate the construction in the landscape of the lake which forms the background on three sides of the house. On the other hand, the flat roof is an ironic tribute to modern architecture.



This villa represents architecture designed for spending free time in harmony with nature and getting back into a slower lifestyle both for the benefit of the environment and personal well-being.

Project name: Four-cornered villa
Architect: Avanto Architects Ltd / Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen, http://www.avan.to
Location: Virrat, Finland
Design and construction: 2008-2010
Gross floor area: 78 m2 + sauna 24m2
Structural design: Konstru Oy / Jorma Eskola
Electrical design: Virtain Sähkötyö Oy / Väinö Sipilä
Photos: kuvio.com / Anders Portman and Martin Sommerschield