V E R S T A

VERSTA - fore! Can something charming come out of exploiting the basic elements of architecture?

Following the finest tradition in modern European private house design and in the continuum of Alvar Aalto’s dwellings, the Versta is a home built for an elderly couple. The 143 m² single-storey house is sited on a gently sloping apple tree orchard in the suburb of the City of Hyvinkää, a town nestling on the edge of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

The controversial wishes of the clients was to have a “tiny house” with airy rooms and with respect for their personal privacy while, at the same time, opening onto unrestricted views and direct access to the lush garden. The outcome of the design process was a house with four-cornered L-shaped floor plan situated in the northeastern corner of the site, thus leaving the original garden as intact as possible and making the best use of the natural daylight. The control over the views was achieved with the framing of the building itself - what you see is what you get!

From the very first sketch, our office's emphasis was on overall form instead of superfine details and exquisite materials. Above all, the form functions as a livable home with free-flowing interior spaces. There are surprising connections between living spaces and a much used shortcut across the outdoor terrace from the atelier to the living room and back. All these are enchanting charms in a building made out of ordinary concrete blocks and prefabricated slabs.

Design motto: If you know exactly what you are going to do, what is the point of doing it?