Among the hills surrounding the Ivalo River in Finland, we find a seemingly austere property. Two garage doors obscure what lies behind them. The intention is clear: to preserve the intimacy and privacy necessary for this private villa.
310 m2 of built area in the village of Ivalo, in Finnish Lapland. An area considered a paradise for nature lovers and Arctic landscapes. The region is known for its long trails, extensive pine forests, and, of course, its northern lights.
A work by the architectural studio Pirinen and Salo , The Cliffhanger project was designed to create a daily connection with the surrounding nature. The vegetation outside becomes an extension of the everyday life that takes place inside the home thanks to the glass window that envelops the building on the river side.
Integrating the interior space with the natural exterior is an exercise proposed from the villa's architectural plan. Located on the riverbank, the villa offers privileged views of the waterfalls every day. The property's orientation offers panoramic views of the sunrise, sunset, and the river itself, with a view of between 1 and 1.5 km in each direction. Beyond lies the fascinating wilderness of Hammastunturi.
Completed in 2024, the project takes advantage of the hill's sloping shape to create a play on perspective that obscures the entire villa. The rhomboid composition, coupled with the slope of the mountain, creates a visual effect that makes the front and back of the building appear to be the same size. This optical illusion, which gives the villa unparalleled architectural expressiveness, allows for the choice of simple materials for the façade cladding, combining the rustic character of the front with the ethereal, icy image of untreated glass and aluminum, inspired by the Arctic.
The contrast is even more extreme inside. Through a profound exercise of listening and understanding the environment, natural light dominates the space thanks to the large windows and skylights in the ceiling. The vastness of the space opens up to the perspective of the river. The grandeur of the views and the impressive shape of the property coexist in balance , creating a visual dialogue of tones similar to the landscape that seeks to convey tranquility and time to contemplate and coexist with the vegetation outside.
Color as visual bridges
In the main living areas, where a play of heights is created by open-plan staircases, pastel tones dominate. A green island kitchen, ceilings with different shades that resemble the shape of the building's architecture itself, and a space clearly governed by light blue, walking the fine line between the coldness of the Nordic landscape and the warmth of the materials. "The blue colour on the walls of the double height space in the hall creates a peaceful grove-like space between the skylit double height space and the landscape in the living space." - Teemu Pirinen, partner architect at Pirinen Salo Oy
"In our work we have just recently noticed that by using the colours of the landscape in the interior we can create a more immersive experience of the landscape. The colours create visual bridges with the corresponding colours in the landscape. Likewise we use red as it is the complementary colour of the green pines to create contrast and visual tension at the furthermost end of the living spaces."
- Teemu Pirinen, partner lead architect at Pirinen & Salo Oy 
The Cliffhanger project is a clear example of the perfect coexistence between architecture and nature. A dialogue of respect and visual balance achieved through the selection of the right materials and tones, thanks to listening to and appreciating the environment. An architectural work that can be admired both from within and from across the river.
CREDITS:
Lead Architects: Teemu Pirinen and Lauri Salo
Photography: Marc Godwin / Archmospheres
Construction Company: Sakela Rakennus Oy
