despite being surrounded by a tall spruce forest, only one tree was removed to build this lakeside residence in south east finland. designed by studio puisto, the exact position of ?3-square house? was largely determined by the 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,? says the design team.

all images and video by marc goodwin, archmospheres
 
 
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,? explains studio puisto. ?the core has been shifted from the coordinate system of the main mass so that the use of the spaces between it and the outer walls could be optimized.?
 
 
the hallway, sleeping areas, entertainment corner, and study are located in ?caverns? created within this spatial distribution. ?inside the core is a utility room, toilets and a walk-in closet,? continue the architects. ?there is no traditional division into rooms, but spaces can be separated from one another by sliding doors if desired. the nature of the spaces varies greatly due to large glass surfaces and powerful openings to the landscape.?

 
 
referred to as ?the most...