Scandinavian success story
Inspired by Nordic design, Hannu and Sally Maki’s contemporary Honka Fusion home is the realisation of a long-held dream
Inspired by Scandi design, discover how Hannu and Sally Maki used a modern log building technique to construct a high-performing contemporary abode
For decades, former company directors Hannu and Sally Maki had dreamed of building their own contemporary home, but it wasn’t until retirement that they had the time and money to achieve their goal. By then, they owned two properties. ese were subsequently sold to finance an exciting self build project, which involved buying a plot of land overlooking the Somerset coastal town of Minehead.
Having met in his native Finland, Hannu and Sally Maki were admirers of Nordic architecture and the prominent use of timber in construction. So, when it came to deciding on a concept for their own home, they had a clear objective: they wanted a house manufactured largely in wood, sourced from a company with strong environmental credentials. After considering several options, they commissioned Honka, a specialist in log houses.
e couple felt that choosing this type of home, which was customised to meet their requirements, was a better option than the traditional masonry route. “Relying on people building with bricks means there is a risk that the project can face delays on site, perhaps due to inclement weather,” says Hannu. “But with a Honka Fusion frame, we were able to agree a fixed price for the project up front, and benefit from the house being erected much quicker. Although using a system like this might be more expensive initially, in the long run the overall cost is probably much the same.”
Honka, which has built approximately 85,000 houses around the world, developed its Fusion technology to enable wood to be seamlessly combined with other materials, such as glass and steel.
e non-settling cross-laminated log affords customers a bolder,
more diverse build. Another design element that appealed to the Makis was the minimalistic Honka Fusion zero corner concept, rather than the cross-cornered feature normally associated with log houses. “e use of logs in a building’s superstructure isn’t particularly common in the UK at the moment,” says Hannu. “Plus, in many cases, the logs are rendered on both sides or, perhaps brick is used outside so you don’t see the logs. We chose heat-treated poplar cladding for the exterior walls.”
Often, such structures are built with sufficiently thick logs to deem extra insulation unnecessary – even in the coldest climates.
“e only reason we had to use insulation was because of Building Regulations in the UK. In Scandinavia and Russia, where the climate is harsher, they’re able to rely on just the logs, but the rules haven’t been modified here to cater for this kind of construction,” says Hannu, who project managed the build. “I loved it and didn’t find the role too taxing, because I’ve some experience in managing projects. With the team we assembled, including structural engineers and architects, I never felt out of my depth and knew they’d have soon tell me if I’d made any schoolboy errors – fortunately, I didn’t.”
However, Hannu is the first to admit that taking on the project management role can become an all-consuming task. “ere were times when I didn’t sleep or would wake up at night and start looking at the plans again,” he says. “I wasn’t worried about anything in particular, it’s just that I was so absorbed in it all. e architects laughed at me when I sent them emails at 3am!”
Design & planning
When it came to discussing plans with their architect, Somersetbased Orme, Hannu and Sally knew how they wanted to organise the interior. “Having lived in so many houses, we knew what does and doesn’t work. We wanted the property to flow, with the indoor and outdoor space on the same level, even though the plot is on a steep slope. In fact, our plan was so embedded in our brains that
when we sat down with the architects to discuss our ideas, we were able to tell them exactly what we wanted,” says Sally.
Securing planning permission was a painstaking process, partly because soil analyses had to be conducted, costing the
Makis £4,000. But, ultimately, the architect’s 32-page application, including 3D drawings, was approved. Although the plot is within the North Hill Conservation Area, the local council’s conservation officer was supportive of the design overall.
As the Makis were building on a steep plot, the groundworks carried out by local builders CJ Lynch were extensive, including excavating to a depth of 6m at the rear of the property. “Before we even started installing the Honka Fusion frame, we’d spent around £150,000 – that was just on groundworks and all the experts we had to hire to undertake the work,” says Hannu. “It’s a massive sum but,