Skip to main content

Modern Architecture Meets Finnish Mountain Cabin at Jávri Lodge

Arkkitehtitoimisto Teemu Pirinen

When most people imagine the ideal Finnish mountain getaway, clean lines, bright airy spaces, and beautifully minimalist spaces that connect them to nature are what come to mind. What people probably don’t expect is a traditional log cabin. But with Jávri Lodge, you get a stunning combination of both. The boutique hotel located in Saariselkä, Finland is a historic, rustic log cabin that received a thoroughly Finnish addition to create the ultimate mountain getaway.

Jávri Lodge isn’t just an incredible vacation retreat, it comes with a fascinating history as well. The original log cabin structures once belonged to former Finnish president Urho Kekkonen. The property served as his personal lodge where he enjoyed the beauty of the Lapland wilderness while hosting an impressive array of guests from royalty to world leaders. Now the hotel, located on the edge of a forest, is a picture-perfect spot for nature lovers to enjoy all that Finland’s northern region has to offer, including hiking, skiing, and catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights.  

In 2017, Jávri Lodge received a makeover, bringing the hotel into the 21st Century while maintaining some of the original historic features. Rather than tear down the log cabins, architectural firm Arkkitehtitoimisto Teemu Pirinen made additions to the structures, creating a space that combines Finnish minimalism with traditional rustic mountain style.

The main addition to the hotel are the copper-clad “Sky Suites” on the second floor of the main building. The exterior wall of the suites is made entirely of glass, allowing guests an unobstructed view of the Aurora Borealis right from the comfort of their beds. The rooms are simple and functional, a hallmark of Finnish design. Featuring light gray walls, black steel ceilings, and minimal furnishings, the rooms showcase window seats perfect for relaxing and taking in the views. With only four Sky Suites available, they offer some of the most exclusive views in all of Finland.

Along with the Sky Suites, the architects also enhanced the main entry and dining hall. A barrel-vaulted ceiling adds volume to the space yet maintains a sense of intimacy thanks to black-painted steel. A wall of windows lets diners enjoy views outside while letting natural light into the space. Outside, the new barrel vault was clad in copper, creating a dramatic contrast against the original wooden logs. The copper is untreated and over time will age to deep black, mimicking the black steel inside.

Throughout Jávri Lodge the strong connection to nature that is important in Finnish design was mintained. Slate flooring in the public areas emulates the dark Laplandic stones and blurs the line between inside and out. Most materials were left untreated to allow for natural aging over time (much like the roof). Windows were carefully placed to frame beautiful exterior views. And furnishings are simple and understated, allowing those beautiful exterior views to be the star of the show. It’s a careful blending of nature, history, and relaxing style that has us packing our backs to head to Finland.

To plan your stay at Javri Lodge, check out the hotel’s official website.

Editors' Recommendations

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
Tumble Creek Cabin is a Net-Zero Vacation Home Nestled in the Cascade Mountains
tumble creek cabin coates design architects 3

As summer slowly creeps closer, we are seeking out amazing weekend escapes that are immersed in nature. While a simple cabin in the woods is enough to make us happy, nothing beats a space that is rustic on the outside but with all of the creature comforts we love about modern living. Throw in the bonus of being completely off-grid and Tumble Creek Cabin in Cle Elum, Washington, checks all of the vacation retreat boxes.

The brainchild of the folks at Coates Design Architects, Tumble Creek Cabin was designed with a big goal in mind: to make this weekend home net-zero. Extreme weather fluctuations dictated the material choices while also creating a big challenge in making sure the home was a zero-energy structure. Luckily for the owners, Coates Design Architects built their entire firm around creating earth-friendly buildings.

Read more
No one has seen this Beatles documentary in 40 years — it’ll soon be on Disney+
It took four decades, but the Beatles' Let It Be documentary is finally coming back.
The Beatles perform their rooftop concert in 1970.

In 2021, The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson surprised Beatles fans with The Beatles: Get Back, a newly restored documentary series that added further context to the Beatles' final movie, Let It Be. The band broke up in 1970, shortly before the release of Let It Be, which chronicled their final recording sessions together. Let It Be was briefly available on home video during the beginning of the '80s, but it spent over four decades in a vault, leaving modern fans unable to watch it... until now.

Next month, Disney+ will host the streaming premiere of Let It Be, marking the first time that the general public has seen it in over 40 years. And just as he did on The Beatles: Get Back, Jackson oversaw the digital restoration of Let It Be that will make the film look better than ever before.
What's different about the restored vision of Let It Be?

Read more
How to change a light fixture without getting shocked
Your guide to this simple household task
Setting up a light fixture

How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? None. The bulb will change when it's ready!

OK, I'll wait for a few minutes to let you catch your breath. There you go ... enjoy a good laugh and take your time. All joking aside, changing a light bulb is easy, and you should never put it off.

Read more