“A large closed tank would have required extensive blasting work and Mikki argued to the municipality that property-specific greywater treatment would be a better option for nature,” Nuuksio

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Ella and Mikki Korhonen have always been true nature lovers and when their children were young, they lived on a small farm in Vihti, where the family lived an idyllic rural life. When the children grew up, the family moved to Tapiola, Espoo, to make it easier to get to school and do their hobbies, although even then they spent a lot of their free time in Nuuksio, walking their dog. Mikki says that living in the city never had any appeal for the family and a longing for nature burned within them. As the children grew older, this longing drove them to look for a leisure plot in the peace of nature. Six years ago, they found a lovely plot in Nuuksio, near a nature reserve, only about a 30-minute drive from their home in Tapiola.

Ella feeling the plot

The building rights for the plot were granted for 80 + 40 square meters, so the main building and sauna building were built on the property. The architect for the project was Kalle Ukonlinna, who designed the buildings in close collaboration with Ella and Miki. The project was particularly inspired by Miki’s martial arts background. Mikki is the head coach at a martial arts school in Espoo, where he teaches karate and kobudo. This gave rise to the idea of building both the main building and the sauna building under one roof and between them a separate training area in addition to a summer kitchen and a recreation room. Another inspiring factor in the design of the house was Miki’s work history in airplane construction, and the roof was shaped like an airplane wing.

With humor and working together, you can get through the project.

The construction project’s founding meeting was held in August 2020, but it took longer than expected to start construction. “At that time, the construction industry was starting to heat up, it was difficult to get reasonable offers, the developers were busy and this project was so challenging that it was difficult to find a contractor.” Eventually, Ella and Mikki found a really good contractor, Finnforta Oy, and construction began in May 2021 under the leadership of CEO Kimm Kiisen. The buildings were protected from the weather in November 2021. Ella and Mikki have also done a lot on the site themselves, such as paneling, laying floors, building a sauna and installing toilet and kitchen furniture. Now the site is ready, with only the finishing touches left.

Finnforta Oy’s CEO Kim Kiis at the construction site

The goal for the construction was to do everything as “green” and environmentally friendly as possible. There was no need to cut down trees or blast away rock on the plot. The house was built on pillars, even though the plot has height differences of up to five meters in places. The pillars at the end of the sauna are almost four meters high. An energy-friendly air-to-water heat pump was selected as the heating system . Both buildings also have circulating air fireplaces, meaning the buildings can be quickly heated even during a power outage. Water for the property comes from a borehole. Grey wastewater is treated in the Vestelli Biopurifier 3 greywater purifier and black water is directed to a closed tank.

House pillars

At first, Mikki doubted that only a large closed tank, into which all the property’s wastewater would be discharged, would be approved for the property. A large closed tank would have required extensive blasting work, and Mikki argued to the municipality that property-specific greywater treatment would be a better option from a natural perspective. First, a greywater treatment plant from another manufacturer was planned for the site, but the municipality of Espoo did not approve the system in question. Then Mikki found Vestelli, applied for a new permit, and it was approved with the Vestelli Biopurifier 3 product. The Biopurifier 3 product has won an impartial user survey and its cleaning results are top-notch, which is why it is perfectly suitable for areas with particularly strict environmental requirements.

Installation of the Biopurifier 3 greywater purifier

Mikki says that the installation of the Biopurifier went well and easily and says that the installation instructions were clear. He has also been satisfied with Vestell’s customer service. “It has been really nice to do business with you and it’s nice that you have joined this project. I have received expert service from you in every way. Everything has gone well and the deliveries have gone as expected.”

Installation of the Biopurifier 3 greywater purifier

He recommends that anyone planning a construction project reserve enough time and resources to be as actively involved as possible in the different stages of construction. In this project, Mikki even decided to take on the leadership of the project himself. “I thought that when you build for yourself, it’s better to know how to build in detail. This has been a good lesson. We have been involved in the work as much as we can.” When you are responsible yourself, it is natural to find out how things should be done and to be able to demand the same from others. The end result is knowing how the house is built and knowing how to act in the event of potential challenges.