Return to nature – live in a log home

27.06.2017 by Sanna Huovinen

People are increasingly aware of the ecological impacts of their consumption habits. This is why the ecological lifestyle has become so popular today: choosing and consuming sustainable products supports a balance with nature while simultaneously generating well-being for people.

Our passion is to make people’s dreams come true by designing modern, healthy and ecological log homes – for your well-being. The natural way of living is a growing trend. It is not about going back in time or accepting low living standards: quite the contrary, a modern eco home made of natural wood fulfils and even exceeds the expectations people have for their living environment.

Why log homes are ecological

The ecological benefits of a log home come from two main sources: the building and supply process and the time the building will be in use. Building a healthy log house is a real act towards ecological living and balance with nature. These houses are designed to last for generations: they serve faultlessly for decades, or even longer.

The massive pine wood we use at Honka has excellent ecological characteristics. First of all, the wood material is 100% renewable and recyclable. No waste is created in production or at the end of the house’s long life cycle.

Secondly, the manufacturing of log houses requires roughly 50% less energy than manufacturing concrete houses and up to 80% less than manufacturing brick houses.

Thirdly, buildings made of massive wood act as carbon sinks. This has a direct positive impact on climate change: wood houses help to reduce global warming.

The entire manufacturing and building process of a Honka log house supports nature:

• The renewable wood raw material is procured from PEFC certified Finnish forests
• The pine logs are processed into modern logs so that no waste is created
• The method of delivery to the building site is as eco-friendly as possible
• The building process is well planned, controlled and quick and it meets the local building standards

Houses for seekers of well-being

Good living consists of a balance between your personal values and what you actually do in the world. If you want to make a positive contribution towards the environment and care for your family’s well-being, the simple choice for a home is a modern Scandinavian style log house. These ecological homes respect nature, help to save it and support the health and safety of the people living in them.

A modern log home is built from natural wood with contemporary design and advanced log technology. Besides excellent visual and functional features, these homes have a naturally calming atmosphere that many of us crave.

It is often the right kind of feeling what we are looking for: satisfaction in what we see, hear, smell, touch and simply experience in everyday life. Log houses provide inspiration for all senses:

• Natural textures like wood please the eye – yet they can be treated any way you like
• Wooden surfaces absorb noise, providing pleasant acoustics
• The natural, antibacterial pine wood has a subtle and fresh scent
• Wood is a warm material to touch
• People feel good and calm in wooden buildings

Cosy homes fulfilling individual demands

While the values of ecological living remain the same, they can result in very different house designs. The Honka house models have been designed so that they can be modified to suit different families and different kinds of lots. The dimensions, layouts and details can be changed according to the customer’s wishes – and when needed, a log house can be designed to be completely unique.

Take a look at are some inspiring examples of ecological Honka log homes that contribute to a happier life!

MODERN ECO HOME FOR THREE GENERATIONS

Savukvartsi is a modern ecological duplex log house, designed for a family spanning three generations.

The philosophy behind this house is to minimise its climate impact. We used natural and recyclable materials and tried to avoid plastic. The building is heated using solar thermal collectors and a water-heating fireplace. The pitch of the roof has been calculated to allow for the perfect angle in relation to the sun. The optimal angle is 35 degrees, and at Savukvartsi, we have gone for 34. 

Jaakko Parkkonen, architect and customer

Eco-house on a hillside

This low-energy home is made of solid wood and designed to respect its natural environment. The house has been labelled BBC Effinergie in France. This means the total energy consumption is lower than 50kWhEP/m2.

Natural country house

This country-style log house combines natural wood with fresh, white surfaces and modern furniture. The large terrace and the large panoramic windows overlook a spectacular view over the Jura Mountains and the pristine nature becomes a harmonious part of the interior.

My dream of a modern log cabin was optimally realised by the joint creative ideas of my Honka architect Thomas Bürgler and myself. In my dream house, I enjoy the comfort of the wood in combination with the wonderful view of the unique nature.

David Stampfli, client

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