Villa Toivonen
Although the sea could be heard nearby, it was nowhere to be seen from the site, just a clear presence of the low pine forest, the moss-covered ground on dry soil, some rocks.
From here, the house as a promenade into the sky. It is a simple rectangular volume clad in wood, pierced by regular 3×3 m openings that wash each room in light. The exterior strictness stands in contrast to a complex interior that connects the ground with the sky through various levels and stairs.
After passing between the tree trunks and entering the house are the more intimate spaces such as bathroom and bedrooms. The upper level comprises one single room with a stepped floor that demarcates kitchen, dining, and living areas in a sequence that culminates in a southern terrace facing the foliage. From here, one stairway leads down to a natural swimming pool, another to the roof terrace above the treetops, providing a panoramic vista over the Åland Sea.
