梅里波蒂家族丨芬兰奥卢丨LUO Architects

Architects:LUO Architects

Area:203m²

Year:2023

Photographs:Kalle Kouhia

Manufacturers:Klas1-yhtiöt,Laattapiste,Leinosen Sahatuote,Liuski Timber,Lumon,Profin,Stala,Tapwell,Tiileri,Woodio

Category:Houses

Design Team:LUO Architects

City:Oulu

Country:Finland

Text description provided by the architects. House Meriportti is a sheltered home located near the seaside, designed by an architect for their family. The site is situated close to a picturesque and lively old harbour area. True to its name, House Meriportti serves as a gateway to the sea for its residents. The building itself creates a sheltered courtyard, protected from sea winds and storms by enclosing it on three sides.

Its steep gabled roof and timber cladding pay homage to the older building stock of the area. The weathering larch cladding and generously sized windows add a distinctive layer to the diverse building stock completed over decades.

The spaces have been designed to allow natural flow between rooms, with continuous and beautiful views opening from one area to another. Large windows extend the interiors outward, framing vistas and connecting the inside with the outside. Yet the design ensures that there is no need for curtains to shield from direct sunlight or prying eyes, nor does significant overheating occur.

The living spaces are at the heart of the building, located at the intersection of two differently oriented roof ridges. The kitchen, dining, and lounge form one open and spacious area, where a centrally placed heat-retaining fireplace both divides and defines the functions. The small woodland behind the house is ever-present indoors through views; lying in bed, one sees spruce branches, the kitchen's large window resembles a forest painting, and at the sauna benches, the evening sun filters through the foliage.

The sauna building shares the same roof as the main dwelling. The unheated, glazed terrace space with roof windows between the two sections allows a transition from everyday life to the calm of the sauna. It also provides direct access from the outside to the sauna, and the grandparents living next door often visit for the afterheat of the sauna. The connecting terrace serves as a cooling-off spot, summer kitchen, extension of the living areas, and a shaded, sheltered outdoor space.

From the entrance, one reaches a hall that will also function as a workspace and homework station when fitted with desks. The children's bedroom can later be divided into two smaller rooms with a partition wall. A small loft with a balcony above the entrance and hall serves as a yoga and exercise space, a guest room, and a quiet retreat.

Wood has been used throughout the house in a rich variety. Visible surfaces feature larch, spruce, and pine, while furniture incorporates birch and elm. Different wood species, varying panel widths, laminated boards, and varying treatments bring vibrancy and intrigue to the spaces while maintaining a harmonious and calm overall feel.

Over time, the wooden facades of the house will turn gray and the galvanized roof will darken. The aging of the materials will make the house even more firmly rooted in its place.

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