The beginnings of a good life and great homes for 60 years

A strong log house brand cannot be created in an instance or by chance, but only through great passion and wealth of experience. When the Saarelainen brothers bought a planer to complement the circular saw they had inherited from their father, the glorious story of Honka and log houses began. Today, these healthy and stylish log buildings serve as homes, summer houses, and public buildings both in Finland and throughout the world.

From the beginning, it was clear that the brothers wanted to build log houses – the best in the business. And do so in a way that would allow as many people as possible to live in a log house built from genuine Finnish wood. And so, they became the first in the world to begin manufacturing log houses industrially.

That initial excitement and passion for good living and log houses has remained strong within the company and the family for 60 years, from one generation to the next. Through partnerships and networks, the strong development has also brought success as a publicly listed company. This is a clear sign that our strong vision will prevail long into the coming decades.

Good Living Today and Tomorrow

For years, we have been a strong innovator in our field and an advocate of good living. Timbers are a marvelous material and today their wonderful qualities are widely recognized. A log house is a good place to live – you can just feel it. And this feeling is also backed by research.

1. Comfort and unique style are appreciated

Your house should feel your own. That is why there are so many different styles of houses on offer – and plenty of options to customize them for each customer. Your lifestyle is strongly represented both inside and outside of your house. You decide whether you prefer the cozy atmosphere provided by small-paned windows or the expansive views afforded by more modern large windows.

If you are passionate about food, the kitchen may well be the heart of your house. Others may find a gym or a large sauna more suitable to their preferences. The definition of comfort is largely up to the individual, but there are some common characteristics as well. Above all, you build your home for you and your family.

2. Appropriateness is a result of good design

Easy everyday living is the basis for a good life, and something to which we can contribute with the design of your home. Experience helps us to consider future needs as well. For us, appropriateness means sensible and functional solutions. A large family may need more than one bathroom on weekday mornings or the option of expanding the house itself or even just the dining table to fit a widening circle of friends or several generations. Good design also considers adequate storage and avoids wasted space, thus increasing cost-effectiveness. Today, most people dream of appropriately sized houses.

3. Naturality and environmental friendliness are key

Naturality and environmental friendliness are growing trends and have a significant impact on housing. When we know what our house is made of, we can sleep soundly at night. As a natural material, wood creates a unique atmosphere with its special scent. It also improves the wellbeing of the residents, as has also been proven scientifically. The natural breathability of a house balances the conditions and provides comfort – naturally. This leads to decreased stress and improved quality of sleep. No wonder then that wood has been favored in house-building for centuries.

4. The wholesomeness of housing is increasingly important

A house should provide the best possible conditions for living: it should be a good place to sleep, breathe, and live in. Thus, wholesomeness and healthy indoor air have become increasingly important when weighing different housing options. Proper materials and skillful construction can be used to ensure a functional and safe home that provides a good living environment. Breathable structures, moisture control, and safe building and material solutions are things worth investing in. Honka aims to provide the best possible living conditions for as many people as possible.

5. Technological developments affect design, building, and living

Technological advancements have also been created to aid good living. You can monitor and adjust the facilities of your home from a far by using a computer. You can also use smart features to manage your heating system or even control music being played in different rooms of your house.

The latest technologies are also used for designing houses. For example, you can see a virtual representation of the interior of your house before it has been built. Construction also utilizes increasingly developed technologies to ensure the best possible energy efficiency, for example. Honka seeks out close cooperation with relevant scientists to continue to innovate even better and more ecological production solutions.

The Anniversary of Good Living Begins

It is time to celebrate our anniversary and we are excited! This year, we are especially investing in interesting architecture and introducing new models and services for our anniversary. Stay tuned.
For 60 years, we at Honka have been passionate about using natural materials to build houses that last from one generation to the next – houses to live and feel well in. Ever since brothers Saarelainen started the company, we have been blazing the trail for the entire industry. Today, we produce urban homes for good living, traditional round timber saunas, modern hotels, healthy day care centers, and various magnificent leisure residences around the world. As a natural material, timbers have always been used as the construction material for our houses and will remain so in the future – for good reason.

Our passion for good building practices is evident in our continued investment into the research, development, and improvement of production processes. Our many patented and certified solutions, such as the Honka Terve Talo -concept, provide our customers various benefits that have not been available in traditional timber construction. The certificates prove that all stages of our manufacturing process are monitored and that the quality is excellent.

Due to automation, the wooden components of our log houses are dimensionally highly accurate and largely prefabricated, thus facilitating installation at the site and contributing to the leakproofness and functionality of the houses. The non-sagging, patented Honka Fusion timber has made it possible to build more modern types of houses as well. Thus, the good, healthy living environment provided by log houses is also available and highly sought after in urban environments.

Experience Benefits the Builders

Listening to the wishes of each house-builder and providing individual service promotes good living and improves the quality of life. With experience of building more than 85,000 log houses, we also know how to provide input and ideas for our customers’ projects. The customer can rely on the fact that we know what we are doing. Whatever the situation, we already have several potential solutions to offer. Our finetuned and cost-effective solutions and our knowledgeable personnel with our network of partners will help you realize your dreams.
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