Experience Villa Mikael & Sanni (6a and 6b)
Tuusula Housing Fair 2020
At the Tuusula Housing Fair, a dream home was built for disabled world-class hiphop dancer Mikael Turtiainen and his carer Sanni. Every square metre of Villa Mikael has been designed to make life easier for him, and it’s already been dubbed the most accessible home in Finland. Experience the clever details of Villa Mikael & Sanni (6a and 6b) at the Tuusula Housing Fair 3–31 August 2020 (at Isokarhunkierto 11, Tuusula).
Have a look at Villa Mikael with canine assistant King!
Mikael’s unbelievable survival story
Talented dancer and musician Mikael Turtiainen had a tragic tram accident in 2008, just days after his final exams. His chances of waking from his coma were put at less than one per cent. But he did.
After his accident, he had to re-learn everything. Now, more than a decade after his accident, Mikael and his service dog have a genuinely accessible home, Villa Mikael, at the Tuusula Housing Fair 2020. Right next door stands a compact detached home for Sanni, Mikael’s carer, and her family.
3 of the most interesting insights
1. Smart home without obstacles
There is not a single apartment in Finland in which accessibile construction as the starting point for a project has been taken to this level. Villa Mikael has no thresholds or ramps and the interiors are built on the same level as the yard, for easy, independent mobility.
Everyday life is made easier by automatized and smart solutions. The doors open electrically and the upper kitchen cabinets and the lower level of the dishwasher can be raised or lowered. Mikael’s Labrador Retriever, King, can venture out into the yard all by himself, thanks to an ID chip in his collar. A support rail, which allows Mikael to walk unaided from the hallway to the living room, bears testimony to his amazing recovery.
2. A lifetime of clean indoor air with Honka Frame construction
The indoor air must be perfectly clean since, due to the accident, Mikael has only half the normal lung capacity. The walls, made with the beautiful Honka Frame pillar beam design, retain their breathing properties.
Pine, found to be the most antibacterial material, has been used in the construction of the walls and ceiling. Pillar beam construction is also historically known to be a durable and healthy solution.
3. A new kind of community and experiences
Villa Mikael & Sanni is a prime example of communal construction and housing. Mikael’s close friend and carer, Sanni, will move into the neighbouring Villa Sanni, with her spouse.
Villa Sanni is a low-budget, detached house for Sanni and Johanna. Together with Villa Mikael, it forms an enclosed, urban atrium accessible by wheelchair. There’s also a barbecue and a roofed terrace. Mikael’s home also has a unique rehabilitation studio, where Mikael can dance and make music.
”I can devote my energy to rehabilitation instead of coping with everyday challenges. I can’t wait to move in.”
Mikael Turtiainen
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