This is the new wellness center that you must visit in Finland
Maybe Finland Don't be high on your summer or early fall travel bucket list. However, the country has brought out its charms also in the warmer months of the year and becomes more attractive, if possible, with additions such as the new wellness center that premieres the city of Ähtäri, about 300 kilometers north of Helsinki.
Saunaraventola Kiulu -the name with which he has been baptized- is both a sauna as a restaurant, as well as the stage for all kinds of events that choose the nature that surrounds it as a backdrop.
The project came to life a few years ago when the Ähtäri city went to the architecture firm Studio Puisto to ask them to develop a concept that would be attractive for tourism throughout the year. So it was that, while evaluating the regional data, they found two potential areas for growth that involved both strengthening the public connection to the coastline and integrating a gathering space for tourists and the local community.
Saunaravintola Kiulu is located in the city of Ähtäri
"It started as a conceptual design and as part of the plan of the Ähtäri Zoo Travel Resort we did in 2018. The complex already had some accommodation units, such as a hotel with views and proximity to the adjacent lake , but it was still necessary to connect the complex closer to the lake and super nice views. The sauna it allows you to enjoy both visually and physically the lake, and the restaurant completes the experience both before and after the sauna. The views and the outdoor experience are enhanced by the access to the roof and the terrace", says Sami Logren, architect of Studio Puisto , in an interview via email to Traveler.es
Little more than two years later, Saunaraventola Kiulu finally materialized in Ähtäri , offering unique views that frame the lake and the natural landscape from inside the structure.
For its part, the outside is deceptively hidden , with an outer layer clad in black wooden boards, while the entire structure itself is situated in the landscape, allowing it to integrate into your environment , thus creating a protected and safe space for activity. "As you enter the building, the views open up dramatically and increase towards the terraces and the roof terrace. saunas they are a world of their own with interiors that provide curated views out to the water," he adds.
The complex and the sauna offer unique views of the lake
Thus, it is not surprising that one of the jewels of the wellness center Be yours sauna , a cozy and comfortable experience that uses traditional and other unconventional materials, with which they intend to celebrate the ritual of the family saunas adapting to the whole community.
The most colossal sauna in the complex it is connected to the main structure, with raised seats and a narrow horizontal panoramic window at the top, making it a great alternative for larger groups. Meanwhile, the smaller, more experimental one is completely removed from the main structure, with a nearly ceiling-height window for encourage a deeper connection with water.
Also, it should be noted that the Kiulu restaurant complements the proposal with both a formal and informal dining experience. The saunas and also said restaurant are unified through a terrace designed to be shared outdoors, bringing the most transcendental focus of the experience not only to the adjacent lake, but to the vast nature that surrounds it.
Saunaraventola Kiulu welcomes travelers and locals from early spring to late fall.
The complex will be open until late fall