638
One might credit the tiny house movement with a new minimalist lifestyle, but the Scandinavians have embraced, elevated and perfected the small, sleek essentials for cozy living for millennia. Finland has been settled since the Ice Age, and lived under Swedish and Russian rule at different times until its independence in 1917. The Republic of Finland embraces nearly 120,000 square miles, 2,760 miles of coast line on the Baltic Sea and more than 50,000 islands. Population hovers around 5.6 million.
The average Finnish house is 850-880 square feet, compared to 2,200-2,430 square feet in the U.S. The cultural connection with nature is very strong, and they value efficiency, light and function over clutter, collections or chaos.
Husband and wife Edward and Sari Becker moved to the New River Valley in 2016 from her native Finland, intent on designing and building a house that embraces Scandinavian simplicity and sophistication. “We wanted to live in town near public transit so we could take the bus and/or ride bikes to work, the farmer’s market and on the Huckleberry Trail,” Becker explains.
Creative Vision
Jeremy Hart of Nest Realty showed them a .67 acre corner lot in Blacksburg which had been on the market quite a while. That could be explained quite simply by the steep slope, overgrown jungle look, and odd proportions, along with a very constrained building site. When you combine the amazing view – Becker being an architect and Sari a native Finn – with their creative vision, the unusual parcel appealed to them. Edward is an associate professor in the College of Architecture, Arts and Design at Virginia Tech. Sari is a nurse, and they are parents of a toddler.
“There was only one small, level spot that would capture the view,” Becker relates, “and it would have to be a 20 x 50-foot rectangular footprint going vertical. The higher we go, the more the view opens up, but being a corner lot, the height was more constrained by building code than down the street.”
Three floors would be too high, so the as-yet unfinished basement and two floors comprise the living spaces, but not quite. “We could have a rooftop garden and outdoor living patio, which adds around 30% more family and entertaining space,” Sari relates. “We planted our first flowers and vegetables this spring and furnished it for relaxing and entertaining.”
Stunning Vista
Walking up to the wood front door of this white boxy home in no way prepares you for the inside. Possibly the tiniest half bath ever is over to the right [think Finnish functional], but more likely the view straight ahead propels you forward. A wall of glass — not windows, mind you, but a solid glass wall — offers a sensational view. This open floor accommodates an all-white interior with one sleek, modern galley kitchen, dining area and living room. Remember, we are inside a 20 x 50-foot space.
The stairwell rises gracefully along the north wall with a line of sight to the first floor. Skylights above keep the climb light and bright. Two bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor provide sleeping quarters, for those who can sleep in a master bedroom with yet another wall of glass, though there is a real non-glass wall in the middle, occupying less than 50% of the exterior wall. Since it faces east, Sari says they are considering some window coverings. The showers are encased in more glass, making everything seem more spacious than the square feet would indicate. Recessed bookcases offer small nooks for books and a few decorative accent pieces.
“The staircase to the rooftop is lightly whitewashed pine, based on the lime-washing stairs frequently found in Scandinavian residential architecture,” Edward notes. “The lime wash is an ancient technique where lime is scrubbed into the flooring to help preserve it and brighten the home during long, dark winters.”
This rooftop is an extraordinarily magical place. Flower beds and vegetables growing share space with tables and chairs to sit, play games, relax, eat, drink, and … indeed … be merry. The spectacular view is even larger up here, and the fresh air and treehouse-like environment are enchanting.
The view box, as Edward calls their home, remains unfinished. A guest suite and indoor playroom are planned for the lowest level, which still encompasses the natural wonder to the east.
Uncompromising quality meshes perfectly with the cool elegance and refined sophistication for which purely practical Scandinavian design is known and cherished. Nature and beauty are fused with a light, bright interior that cannot help but keep spirits high and life simple. The entire home evokes serenity and harmony with Mother Nature and her ever-changing kaleidoscope of colors, moods and seasons.
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace
Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace
