Project Name: Långholmen Residence

Location: Parainen, Finland

Design Team: Mer Architects

Total Floor Area: 150 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Mer Architects

Design Features:

Project Långholmen Residence, designed by Mer Architects, stands as a masterful expression of environmental sensitivity and historical respect nestled within the island of Långholmen in Parainen, Finland, demonstrating the perfect balance between architectural intervention and natural landscape that redefines the relationship between Finnish coastal architecture and its setting. This 150-square-meter family retreat exemplifies a unique design language through its two-volume composition unified by a folded roof, thoughtfully responding to a landscape shaped over millennia. The polished granite and gneiss cliffs, emerging from the sea approximately 10,000 years ago after the ice age, present distinctive geological characteristics that inform the architectural approach.

The project's most compelling design achievement lies in its covered outdoor living room design, positioned between two architectural volumes, serving as the heart of the entire building. This central space blurs the boundary between shelter and nature, creating a unique transitional zone. A light brick wall housing an open fireplace cuts diagonally through this space, carefully framing views of nature typical of this archipelago region, including crooked pine trees, various mosses, and lichen. This design gesture not only establishes visual connections between interior and exterior but also creates a functional outdoor living space that becomes the emotional center of the building. The vertical spatial organization achieves programmatic separation through two distinct volumes, with the first part housing the sauna, shower, and dressing room, and the second providing a single space for living and sleeping.

The architectural narrative unfolds through sophisticated understanding of vernacular materials and construction traditions, demonstrating remarkable design expression. All exterior timber utilizes untreated larch, referencing the traditional timber plank facades of local fishermen's huts. This material choice not only honors local architectural traditions but also allows the building to weather naturally over time, harmonizing with the surrounding landscape. On the seaside elevation, sliding timber slat shade systems demonstrate multifunctional design strategy, preventing birds from flying into windows, controlling spatial overheating, and providing privacy without sacrificing views. The light grey metal roof sheeting reflects excess summer heat, optimizing the building's climatic performance. Interior spaces are clad in timber, with some floors tiled with oiled cement tiles. The main volume is meticulously designed to accommodate a bespoke bunkbed with pull-out double beds, a small kitchen, dining area, and fireplace, demonstrating spatial efficiency.

The façade treatment demonstrates thoughtful integration with the site. The building's placement carefully preserves existing rock formations and centuries-old pine trees, exhibiting restraint and respect for the natural environment. Visitors arrive from the open sea at a hidden cove, where a large timber jetty forms the major outdoor living area. From the jetty, an elevated timber path guides people through tall reeds and a small pine forest. The cottage emerges between tall pines, and visitors proceed up to the terrace, guided by a decked path along the back of the house to arrive at the center of the building, where a view through a covered terrace opens towards the sea. The back façade cleverly disguises an outdoor kitchen, while the outdoor dining area is lowered so as not to distract the view from inside. These design details enrich the spatial experience and establish a balance between openness and privacy.

The project's defining feature is its prioritization of sustainability and environmentally responsive design. The building features a composting toilet and natural ventilation system with bespoke ventilation shutters by the beds, minimizing environmental impact. The sauna placement exemplifies thoughtful orientation, positioned to receive golden glow interior during the evening sun while maintaining the shortest distance for a dip in the sea, honoring the essential Finnish tradition of alternating between heat and cold water immersion. Through its restrained design and meticulous detailing, this residence embodies a sophisticated understanding of site-specific conditions and a refined approach to contemporary Scandinavian architecture.

Design Team Mer Architects, established in 2015 and based in Finland, has distinguished itself as an architectural practice characterized by its holistic approach to sustainable design. The firm combines individuality, client-focused methodology, and exceptional quality to create spaces that are both memorable and meaningful. Under its current leadership team, Mer Architects has developed a design philosophy where beauty, functionality, economic efficiency, and ecological awareness are intrinsically linked.

The practice currently maintains an enthusiastic, versatile, and experienced team with extensive expertise in exceptionally demanding architectural and principal design projects, ranging from real estate development to the most complex details of implementation design. The design team for the Långholmen Residence project comprises Arq. Julia Hertell, Arq. Jenni Hölttä, Arq. Paula Leiwo, Arq. Sini Kukkonen, and Arq. Johanna Brummer. The team brings knowledge in both new construction and renovation or alteration projects, is experienced in Building Information Modeling, and has expertise in Life Cycle Assessment and carbon footprint calculations.

The firm's design philosophy centers on contextual understanding and multisensory spatial experience, employing rigorous analytical frameworks to develop architectural responses that enhance living quality. Their methodology emphasizes understanding diverse contextual conditions through attentive listening and observation, thorough analysis of site, plot, and program, balance between overall concept and detail design, and three-dimensional understanding. This commitment to contextual sensitivity extends across all scales, from site planning to material detailing, ensuring each project genuinely responds to the specific needs of its site, clients, and communities.

Mer Architects demonstrates particular expertise in innovative natural material applications, natural ventilation strategies, and multisensory spatial design. Their design process is characterized by rigorous site analysis from both technical and social perspectives, ensuring each project responds thoughtfully to its context. Collaboration forms the foundation of their methodology, with internal design workshops facilitating idea exploration and problem solving in an open, engaging atmosphere. For each project, the firm assembles a tailored project team, supplemented when needed with technical designers, graphic designers, researchers, or experts from other fields.

Mer Architects' commitment to environmental responsibility is formalized through their signature on an architects' declaration addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, achieving carbon-neutral organization status in 2024. The firm's portfolio reflects a commitment to architectural excellence that balances functional requirements with aesthetic consideration while maintaining focus on ecological and cultural responsibility. Through their interdisciplinary methodology, Mer Architects integrates technical precision with conceptual rigor, producing work that demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of materiality, spatial organization, and environmental performance. Beyond traditional practice, Mer Architects engages broader discourse through hosting open DO Mer workshops, TALA Mer discussion evenings, and LUE Mer reading circles, exploring the role and potential of the built environment in shaping society. The firm believes in the transformative power of architecture as a tool for improving quality of life and infuses all work with dedication to creating spaces that genuinely respond to human needs and aspirations.