This state-of-the-art holiday home is a place to escape from a bitterly cold winter and a busy city...
Whenever there is time in between races, rally driver Emil Lindholm goes back to his countryside to a unique seaside house from which he moved out to live on his own years ago. The log sauna is a must every time.
Solid wood home construction runs in the family
In a breathtakingly beautiful spot, amid picturesque pines, stands an impressive pillar beam Frame wooden house and a Honka log cabin. This is where Emil relaxes, enjoys the sauna, takes the boat out and meets his parents and siblings and their families.
– “I’ve lived my entire childhood in a Honka home and my parents have had a number of Honkarakenne home and cottage projects along the years. Half of them were built before I was born, and I’ve helped build some of the later ones. Although they’ve relied on outside expertise, the family have pitched in as much as possible. Seeing a log house being built is something that really makes an impression every time and stays in the mind. In fact, one of my earliest memories is about the work on the foundation of our cottage in Levi,” Emil says.
"Seeing a log house being built is something that really makes an impression every time and stays in the mind.
Emil Lindholm, rally driver
Take a video tour at Lindholm’s paradise
A pillar beam house with fantastic landscape windows
The seaside house is a distinctive Frame pillar beam house. It was built 13 years ago on a plot that already had the family’s Honka log cabin. Now that cottage acts as the beach sauna and guest house.
The changing landscape was the starting point for the planning. The family wanted to have large windows towards the sea and a covered terrace to watch as the seasons changed and to enjoy observing the local animals – seals, otters, swans, white-tailed eagles, deer and foxes.
Durable and impressive materials
In addition to the terrace and landscape windows, what is striking about the architecture are the wooden pillars and beams that run from the ceiling out on to the terrace. A plaster on the façade has proved to be an excellent choice for the exterior. Despite the often harsh seaside conditions, there has not been any need to repaint the plastered walls.
The house has stood the test of time technically, functionally and visually. Only the heating system was changed from an air-to-water heat pump to geothermal heating a few years ago. This also enabled cooling in the lounge that basks in the sunshine all day in the summer.
All the family’s adult children spend a lot of time in their childhood home with their spouses and children, as there is plenty of room. They spend time together every year most of the summer holiday and other longer holidays.
A co-driver’s dream – log house
Emil’s co-driver, Reeta Hämäläinen, known as Rally Reeta, also pops over to visit Emil’s family for a breather and to dream about her own log house. A log house, because she says logs create warmth and cosiness.
– “This is a fabulous place. Although I live in a block of flats in the city, I’m not a city person. I’m dreaming of a traditional yellow log house in the country. I imagine looking out through large windows into a spacious landscape with horses grazing and water glistening in the background,” Reeta says.
"I’m dreaming of a traditional yellow log house in the country."
Reeta Hämäläinen, rally co-driver
Emil is also planning a project, a Honka log cabin in the archipelago. But the time hasn’t come quite yet. The family home is still more than enough for him to spend his free time.
– “This is a place where I can really relax and just enjoy myself,” says Emil.
"This is a place where I can really relax and just enjoy myself.
Emil Lindholm
Building facts
✔ Residents: rally driver Emil Lindholm’s parents. During their free time, also Emil and his siblings, their spouses and children.✔ Design: A distinctive two-storey Frame built to the customer’s specifications – pillar beam house – Architect: Marko Vuorinen, Honkarakenne. Please note: Honka Frame pillar beam houses are only sold in Finland and Sweden. There is also a unique Honka log cabin sauna at the shore.
✔ Building materials: Frame wooden house: solid wood beam and board with plastered surface, interior walls with float finishing. Seaside sauna built with logs.
✔ Fixtures: Puustelli (kitchen)
✔ Location: Inkoo
✔ Constructed in: 2011
