Kilponiementie 3 Chain Houses

Completed in 1993, the 24 rental houses on Kilponiementie represent a variation of the twin cabin type. During the design process, different layouts were tested for different user groups. In response to new housing regulations introduced at the time, kitchen windows were positioned towards the yard. The houses also feature large sliding doors, allowing residents to adapt the interiors to their changing needs. With 79 m² of living space, each compact house comprises a single residential floor, a spacious unheated attic, and a small private yard.

The houses are arranged in four comb-shaped rows oriented in different directions, defining a shared street. At the junction of the rows is a shared square called “Pikku tori”, which contains a communal space and an environmental artwork by Jaakko Rönkä. With their gables facing the street, the houses recall the spatial character of traditional East Karelian villages. Pastel-coloured façades, round attic windows, and accentuated window frames give the houses a distinctive architectural character and a strong visual identity.

The project was published in Finnish Architectural Review 1/1994.

Olli Lehtovuori was responsible for the overall architectural concept. Implementation planning was carried out by Lehto & Mäki.