London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

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.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
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.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
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
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
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
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
×