Villa Ervi
| Villa Ervi | |
|---|---|
Villa Ervi in 2014 | |
Interactive map of the Villa Ervi area | |
| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Architectural style | Modern architecture |
| Location | Kuusiniementie 5, Kuusisaari, Helsinki, Finland |
| Coordinates | 60°11′18″N 24°52′06″E / 60.1882°N 24.8683°E |
| Completed | 1951, extended 1962 (office annexe) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Brick, concrete, plaster, steel[1] |
| Floor count | 2 + basement |
| Floor area | 545 square metres (5,870 sq ft) (residential 222 square metres (2,390 sq ft), office 323 square metres (3,480 sq ft), other 75 square metres (810 sq ft))[2] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Aarne Ervi |
| Other information | |
| Parking | Detached garage |
Villa Ervi is a detached residential building located on the Kuusisaari island in western Helsinki, Finland.[3]
It was designed by the architect, Professor Aarne Ervi (1910–1977) as the family residence of him and his wife, the actress Rauni Luoma.[4] Ervi began designing it in the late 1930s, but the plan was interrupted by the breakout of the Winter War in 1939; planning permission was granted in 1943, but construction was delayed by the Continuation War.[1] After the war, Ervi revised his plans, and changed the design from flat to a gabled roof. The design was finalised in 1950, and the building was completed in 1951.[5] In 196s, he added an office annexe to house his design bureau; it comprises approximately half of the total floor space.[5][2] At the same time, he also had a separate sauna building and an outdoor swimming pool built.[4]
The design features white surfaces, wood and other natural materials, and large windows allowing plentiful natural light to enter.[4] The building's interior area is 545 square metres (5,870 sq ft).[2] The plot is 0.23 hectares (0.57 acres) in size, and has a private shoreline on the Gulf of Finland.[2]
Juhana Lahti, a researcher at the Finnish Heritage Agency specialising in Ervi's work, has characterised the building as unique, architecturally important, and well preserved for a residential building.[4] It is regarded as one of the most important post-war residential buildings in Finland.[4][1] It is not, however, protected by a heritage designation: the building's owner since 1990, architect Mauri Tommila, did not wish to turn it into a 'museum', because he believes that since it was built as a family home, it should remain so.[5]
References
- ^ a b c "Villa Ervi" (in Finnish). Helsinki City Museum. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Kuusiniementie 5, 00340 Helsinki". Oikotie (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ Miettinen, Petra (10 March 2023). "Kändisarkitekten Aarne Ervis hem på Granö till salu för miljonbelopp". Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Takala, Sami (17 October 2022). "Tältä näyttää myyntiin tullut helsinkiläisen arkkitehtilegendan entinen koti nyt". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Burtsoff, Petri (23 October 2025). "Villa Ervi in Helsinki is a mid-century gem where life and work come together". Monocle. Retrieved 25 October 2025.