Villa Skogshyddan, Kauniainen
Villa Skogshyddan was restored with traditional methods and breathable materials, from the log frame and finishes to tiled stoves, windows and facades.
Timber repairs
The Stenius House
The restoration of the log-built Villa Skogshyddan on Kavallintie in Kauniainen was completed in February 2019. The villa, dating from 1907/1913, was designed by architect Harald Smedberg and master builder Vilho Lekman.
The original summer cottage was built from round logs by office manager Gustav Borin and bought in 1913 by Fridolf Fredrik Ekberg. That same year the cottage was expanded into a villa, serving until 1942 as the Ekberg family’s summer home. This is also the origin of the building’s other name, Villa Ekberg.
Villa Skogshyddan represents the National Romantic style. The main entrance was probably rebuilt in the 1920s, when it received a National Romantic roof and Ionic columns. Lake Gallträsk is one of Kauniainen’s landmarks, and the porch and outdoor area were placed towards the lake, even though it lies north of the house.
The building is protected in the local plan as a culturally and environmentally valuable building. It may not be demolished or altered in ways that weaken its historical values.
The building was converted into three apartments, each with its own entrance. The log frame was restored using traditional methods. Insulation and finishes were carried out with breathable materials. Ventilation machinery and ducts from the daycare period were removed, and natural ventilation was reinstated. The original restored tiled stoves and windows are an important part of the villa’s atmosphere. The facades were painted with traditional linseed oil paint.
