FINLAND –When asked by their children to make a playhouse, architects Anna and Eugeni Bach realized a project commissioned, quite simply, by their son and daughter.
Building something from scratch with their own hands allowed the experienced professionals to create a hideaway conceived for a pair of unusual clients. Two architects/builders aided by two clients/helpers explored their grandparents’ farm and chose a site for a small wooden cottage. It’s made of spruce trees sourced from trees planted by the children’s great-grandfather and felled by their grandfather.
According to the Bachs, the 13.5-sq-m playhouse, which was realized on a budget of only €800, features ‘traditional construction techniques used in Finnish barns.’ A nail’s distance was left between slats for ventilation and a roofing system made of simple overlapping grooved wooden planks prevents water from entering.
The small-scale interior, designed for small-scale people, is composed of two parts that mirror each other except in headroom; a double-height side allows adults to enter easily, and the other side is divided into two levels connected by a sturdy ladder stair. The final result comes right out of a fairy tale book. The physical consequence of an impressive didactic process encouraged two persuasive kids to roll up their sleeves and give shape to their dreams.
Photos courtesy of Tiia Ettala
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