Two Brothers: Vacation Home / MNY Arkitekter / Finland

One-time retreat for two families, together and separately

Located on a rocky forest plot with a sea view near Salo, southern Finland, the vacation home "Two Sisters" by MNY Arkitekter is designed to accommodate two brothers and their families celebrating unity and autonomy. Slogan: "together separately" — two different blocks sharing auxiliary and public spaces — each creates its own connection with the ground, panorama, and light.

The villa is thoughtfully integrated into the site, preserving pines, framing the marine landscapes and respecting the rough terrain. Its fan-shaped layout, wooden structure, and separated volumes embody both intimacy and openness.

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Spatial strategy and the duality program

The architectural concept divides the house into two main blocks, each housing one family, while they share some public elements and terraces. They unfold from the central frame connecting them, allowing visual dialogue without intrusion.

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Instead of one monolithic block, the project is visually fragmented into four smaller volumes of varying heights, reducing scale and enhancing rhythm. The layout ensures equality and privacy: views are organized so that each family feels connected yet hidden.

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The existing shed on the site is thoughtfully integrated into the project, physically and visually connected to the fan layout, making the design cohesive — a house grown from the history of the plot.

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Materials and construction

The house stands on a pre-fabricated log frame 180 mm, clad with vertical pine boards coated with silicone for durability. All interior surfaces — walls, ceilings — have received alkaline treatment to lighten the tone, complemented by brick tiles in movement zones.

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Exposed roof beams, black fireplaces, and fixed dark furniture create contrast and sculptural depth. Materials were chosen not only for aesthetics but also sustainability — the efficiency of the log frame, wood that becomes more beautiful and eco-friendly over time.

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Light, connection and atmosphere

Large glass facades provide abundant natural light and panoramic views, while internal volumes maintain visual connection between blocks. From one of the window platforms you can see your brother's house; otherwise, architecture provides an unobtrusive separation.

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Natural ventilation, floor heating, and wooden construction ensure comfort and sustainability. The journey through the house is a layered experience: forest shadows, sea light, wood textures — lead inhabitants to a calm interaction with nature.

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Double narrative in wood and landscape

The vacation home "Two Sisters" by MNY Arkitekter / Finland is architecture that is simultaneously a house and a dialogue. It respects family ties and personal space through form, materials, and response to place. By dividing volumes, connecting functions, and respecting the landscape, the project becomes more than just a cottage: it is a sculptural living framework for relationships in the Finnish forest.