Villa Minna semi-detached house in Ylläs

Semi-detached Villa as an Investment 

Minna from Espoo has witnessed firsthand the growing international appeal of Lapland through both her work and family travels. Building a holiday home of her own hadn’t been in the plans – until a family friend acquired a cabin plot from Metsähallitus near the Ylläs fell. Their suggestion to jointly build a semi-detached house began to feel like a smart investment.

“When we visited the new Röhkömukanmaa area in Äkäslompolo, we were enchanted by the surrounding nature and the location, which provides easy access to the slopes, ski tracks, and village services. Knowing there’s a shortage of internationally competitive holiday cottages in Finland, we decided to build a high-quality vacation villa for rental purposes. From the start, the goal has been a long-term investment that taps into Lapland's tourism growth potential,” says Minna.

Customized Semi-detached Package from PolarHouse

At first, they were looking for a turnkey semi-detached house, but after evaluating different options, they chose a thermal log house from PolarHouse.

“We had an initial floor plan, based on which PolarHouse tailored a house package offer. Through them, we also got reliable contractors for the construction work. Managing the project with several contractors eventually felt like a safer option than having one provider responsible for everything. Once the overall plan was finalized, PolarHouse provided the documents required for the building permit.”

Construction began with groundwork in April–May 2024. The house package was delivered and erected in early June within a few days. It consisted of thermal log elements pre-installed with windows and interior paneling.

Due to the high degree of prefabrication, assembly was fast and weather-related risks were minimal. The semi-detached villa was completed just before Christmas, with an occupancy inspection and rental use starting in January 2025.”

Outdoor Sauna as Part of Modern Luxury

The finished semi-detached house consists of Villa Minna and Villa Outi. The floor plans of the units are mirror images of each other. The walls, floors, kitchens, and bathrooms of both units are identical. The house design emphasizes both functionality and aesthetics.

“We aimed for a layout that accommodates various groups: families, friends, or business groups. The shared living areas and bedrooms are separated from the bathroom and toilet areas, and the luxurious outdoor saunas are accessed from outside.”

In terms of interior design, the goal was to combine modern Scandinavian style with Lapland’s natural essence. The roof ridge reaches up to seven meters, allowing for standard ceiling heights upstairs as well. Large panoramic windows bring nature into the interior spaces.

Semi-detached Construction Saves Costs

Minna wants to remind those dreaming of their own house that you don’t have to buy a ready-made model if none feel quite right.

“PolarHouse also builds customized homes based on your own drawings.”

To reduce costs, Minna warmly recommends the semi-detached option for building both a personal and a rental cabin.

“In a semi-detached house, you can maximize building rights efficiently without additional costs. Savings are achieved in design, materials, transport, and energy. Joint construction, of course, requires good communication, regular meetings, project management, and a shared vision for the outcome.”

Villa Minna has already hosted travelers from Germany, France, Poland, and the Netherlands.

“I want to promote Finland and especially Lapland to the world. Villa Minna is a chance for me to showcase Finland at its best to international guests: tranquility of nature and unique experiences in a high-quality, thoughtfully designed accommodation.” elämyksiä korkeatasoisessa, huolella suunnitellussa majoituskohteessa." 

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