The feeling of home

BY Joonas Rantala 24.1.2017

Humans have an innate craving for cosy surroundings. The most authentic way to achieve a cosy home is to use natural materials and well thought-out interior decoration solutions. As a foundation for great atmosphere and quality of life, the Nordic log house is in a league of its own.

The feeling of home draws from many sources. For people in the Nordic countries, a relaxing home and leisure environment always connects to nature in one way or another. A living wooden surface entices the eye and brings us closer to nature. Research has also shown that wood relaxes both the mind and the body. So bringing a piece of nature inside is a very wise idea indeed.

Not everything in the home has to be made of wood, however: most materials are best utilised when they are used harmoniously with other natural materials. A modern, non-settling Honka Fusion log wall can contain stone and glass elements and sheet-like wood structures, for example.

Logs can form a part of a wide variety of home decoration styles. The wood surface can be treated in various ways to achieve different effects. To maintain great indoor air quality we recommend the use of non-toxic waxes and other safe surface treatment products.

Whatever qualities your favourite style entails, they can be realised with modern log technology. The beauty of this is that the excellent features of a log house will always be there, regardless of the chosen style of the house. With modern corner solutions and healthy structures, Honka log houses are an easy fit even into urban settings. This way the calming presence of wood can be felt both at home in the city and in the vacation home in the country.

organic and healthy living

A genuine, breathing log frame forms a great and durable foundation for a home. Thick massive wood structures naturally absorb and release moisture into the air. The log structure keeps temperature and air moisture in balance and prevent the growth of harmful microbes, bacteria and mould spores. An airtight structure also reduces the feeling of draft, which adds to the comfort of living.

Optimal indoor air quality is easily achieved by choosing a Honka log house: as log structures do not have damp proofing plastic sheets that prevent the structure from breathing, high-quality indoor air becomes a part of everyday life. When using Honka’s laminated logs, it is good to know that the glue used to make the logs retains the wood’s natural breathability and doesn’t contain any harmful substances.

Acoustics and lighting as wellsprings of comfort

The pleasant acoustics of wood structures form an important part of the quality of living. Large windows that open into optimal directions allow natural light to be used as an element in interior decoration. Appropriate lighting that complements the natural light brings the finishing touches to the carefree and safe everyday living environment.

The light- and soundscape of the house affect us no matter what we do, so their quality should be given a lot of consideration. The positioning of the windows and other apertures is affected by factors such as the cardinal directions, other structures in the vicinity, trees, roads, pathways, etc. Honka always takes these factors into account in its designs: the house is designed to serve the needs of its users with respect to the unique features of its environment.

Fire safe homes made of massive wood

Living fire can be a great mood-setter, especially in the darkening evenings. A fireplace is always a great addition to a log house but if it is not possible to build one, candles, when used correctly, can provide a pleasant way to enjoy the living flame.

Did you know that massive wood is a fireproof material? Fire tests conducted by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, an independent expert institution, demonstrated that a 128 mm strong, load-bearing massive wood wall structure made of non-settling Honka Fusion logs withstood a fire for over 90 minutes. What this means in practice is that in the event of a fire, a Honka log house built using these logs will give the inhabitants time to get to safety as the load-bearing structures will withstand the fire’s heat without collapsing for extended periods of time.

Enjoy life and safe living!

We want your home to be a safe place that improves the quality of life for you and your loved ones on the long term. This is why every house, villa, school or other building we build is its own unique project. Our well-designed model solutions are all built individually. And if you have a unique log house idea in mind, we will realise it in true and safe Honka fashion.

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Get inspired by the healthy and organic lifestyle and the unique atmosphere of log homes.