3 Square House is a minimalist home, the design of which is centered around the views of the lake and forest
This lakeside residence in Finland was built in a dense forest but only one tree was removed to make the project alive. Studio Puisto designed 3 Square House determined by available views, the more north you move on the plot, the more the lake landscape opens, on the other hand the shortest distance to the shore was precisely determined.
The building consists of three interlocking square masses. The main volume contains the living, sleeping, and dining areas, while the smaller ones house the sauna, garage, and technical facilities. ‘the basic idea behind the main mass is the core of the open square space, where all the fixtures are integrated and much of the functionality is located. The hallway, sleeping areas, entertainment corner, and study are located in ‘caverns’ created within a spatial distribution. Inside the core is a utility room, toilets and a walk-in closet. There is no traditional division into rooms, but spaces can be separated from one another by sliding doors if desired. The core, with all its surfaces and fixtures, is oiled walnut. Outside the core, the walls and ceilings, as well as the vertical structures, are black oil stained pine. The floor is made of black oil waxed oak parquet. The sauna and washrooms form a contrast to the dark main mass with paraffin-oiled alder on all surfaces. In addition, the shower has a ceramic tile that matches the wood.
The ever-changing landscape remains visible thanks to a sun-blind which has been integrated into the outer surface of the wall structure. The home’s doors and windows are 2.3 meters high (7.5 ft). Everything up to this height is either glass or wood that has been oil painted black, while everything above and below is pre-patinated sheet zinc. The house seems to be peacefully integrated into nature around, though it looks minimalist and geometric, it’s rather harmonious and natural. Get more of this gorgeous minimal home below!
