Stories

A serene farm in the heart of Turkish nature

Vedat Bayrak and Kontio — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:10:56 GMT

A serene farm in the heart of Turkish nature, only an hour and a half away from Istanbul, features four beautiful Kontio houses designed especially for weekend getaways.

A modern log home in the Swiss Alps

KONTIO — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:47:42 GMT

In the heart of the Valais Alps, in a small village above the town of Sion, a contemporary log house project has come to life, the result of a shared vision between two architecture enthusiasts with contrasting tastes. Situated at an altitude of around 900 meters, this log house designed by Kontio, the renowned Finnish builder, perfectly embodies the union of modern architecture and traditional log construction.

Cliffhanger Chalet – A Story of Vision and Engineering

Pavel Denisov — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:00:00 GMT

High above the alpine valley on Mount Washington, Canada, stands the Cliffhanger Chalet—a bold retreat built where few would dare. More than just a building, it is a place for unforgettable moments: families gathering around the fire, wedding parties celebrating on the terrace, and travelers soaking in sweeping mountain views. Within its two side-by-side units, the chalet welcomes a wide variety of guests seeking alpine life at its most inspiring.

A City Retreat in Poland

KONTIO — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 21:00:00 GMT

Have you ever dreamt of a having a peaceful retreat in the middle of a hectic, concrete, urban jungle? Our clients, a young family with two sons, built their own safe haven in a suburban area full of concrete houses.

Why did this family choose to buy a log house?

The answer is simple. They used to live in the heart of the forest, enjoying the relaxing nature. However, life has its everyday challenges, and a move to the city was necessary in order to combine the professional life and dedicating enough time also for the family. It was clear, that long commutes to the office were not the best way to spend free time.

A Finnish Log House in a Slovak Style

KONTIO — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Location: Dom Lomnica, Slovakia

This house in Dom Lomnica, Tatra Slovakia, was a long term dream. Now, after working together with architect Lydia Janikova, the owner’s vision is a reality, down to the very last detail. The house is situated in the village Veľká Lomnica, between the cities of Kezmarok and Poprad, in the picturesque surroundings of Tatra Mountains. “Previously, we were living in a city flat together with my family. We suddenly feel a great freedom and relief thanks to the spaciousness and uniqueness of this building.”

In harmony with nature

Even from a distance the design is impressive, and the beautiful look of the Finnish pine structure helps create the overall feeling. The house includes many fascinating details, and the combination of the wooden structure with glass and stone elements, and Slovak nature, creates a truly unique appearance that still fits perfectly into the local environment. “We wake up in the morning and we can see deer grazing outside”, the owners say enthusiastically.

A childhood dream of living in a beautiful log house comes true

KONTIO — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Vincent, Celine and their two little daughters live in a contemporary Kontio SmartLog™ house in Valais, Switzerland. They dreamed of a log house in beautiful surroundings.

A contemporary house, but not of concrete

KONTIO — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Kristof and Yaelle are a neurosurgeon couple who wanted to build a contemporary and healthy house in Valais, Switzerland. They chose Kontio Log House as the manufacturer because of Kontio's unsettling SmartLog™.

The Norwegian Dream of the Mountain Cabin

KONTIO — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Turid and Øivind wanted to build a log cabin in the Norwegian mountains. Turid is an architect and already had the drawings for a cabin ready before she got in touch with Kontio.

The plot is situated in Gåsbu outside Hamar, which is a fantastic area of natural beauty, with ski runs in the winter and hiking and biking trails in the summer.

“We took a liking to Kontio because of their modern style and solutions for the project. The choice fell on Kontio, who were able to offer a cabin that was ready to move in and had a contact person throughout the entire process. We felt that our contact at Mietinen took care of our interests during the entire process.” Turid and Øivind say.

The cabin is space-efficient for its 70 m², with good opportunities for many to sleep well. As there is a nice sitting room with an exit directly to a large covered terrace with a jacuzzi, it is diligently used in both summer and winter.

Large windows in both the sitting room and the bedrooms create a bright atmosphere and erase the dividing line between indoors and outdoors. The couple has a bright Scandinavian style with delicate colours and black windows that finish off the look. Turid has painted herself the nice pictures on the wall.

The warmth of log is unique

KONTIO — Thu, 16 May 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Vanessa, an interior decorator, and her carpenter husband love wood. For their forested land in the Belgian Ardennes, they opted for a 350 m2 wooden home of Kontio’s log. Two years later, the couple are more convinced than ever of the virtues of building with solid wood.

Building your dream in Switzerland

KONTIO — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Living in the Valais region in Switzerland means living in a well-preserved environment, surrounded by high mountain tops, close to mountain lakes, and enjoying clean air throughout the year.

“Living in such exceptional circumstances, people have the right to exceptional homes. Kontio’s wooden cottages and houses are environmentally friendly. They are entirely part of the local heritage, as they adapt perfectly to both plains and slopes”, explains Michel Martignoni, the architect and founder of Ma Maison Bois, Kontio’s Swiss reseller.

This exceptional log house in Valais was delivered by Kontio. The company specializes in the construction of modern wooden homes that merge Swiss know-how with Finnish building technology.

Martignoni fell for the charm of wooden houses more than 20 years ago. “When we build and live in solid wood houses, a whole philosophy goes with it. The material is a living being, and the many advantages it offers must be preserved”.

Kontio draws on its rich experience to deliver high-quality houses that comply with environmental standards. The dream of building your own wooden house is now within easy reach.

Modern design homes

The aesthetics of wooden homes is not limited to the traditional cottage. When creating a Kontio house, the design architecture and modern finishes guide the architectural approach. For this project, Martignoni adapted to the circumstances without compromising on aesthetics.

Just as Kontio building technology facilitates the creative gesture thanks to its ease of use, the company strives to maintain the properties of the wood by focussing on the essential. The character of the house is revealed as it is built, once the logs, the smooth facades, and the interior wooden planks with very fine joints have found their place. The range of possibilities is wide: Kontio’s non-settling log, Kontio SmartLog™, goes well with all types of material–steel, stone, glass, or varnished surfaces–and all colours. Customisability is key!

This house in Valais brings out the excellent properties of the wood without using any solvents, paint, tapestry, or facade decorations that would prevent the material from “breathing”. The wood thus expresses its essence and sensuality while also respecting the environment.

A healthy and comfortable home

In addition to its aesthetic possibilities, wood meets 21st-century expectations for comfort and wellbeing. Choosing a Kontio wooden house means choosing to live a healthy life in harmony with nature. Less stress, more comfort.

The charm of a wooden house works its magic from the moment you move in. It is easy to relax and re-energise, even when living in a busy urban environment. The natural and fibrous structure of Kontio ArcticPine™ material gains and loses humidity depending on how the temperature and humidity of the ambient air varies, thereby maintaining the ideal moisture balance inside the house. This property ensures remarkable air quality that reduces allergies, risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma, exhaustion, and headaches.

Enjoying natural light in the living space is also essential. The windows and carpentry are designed according to the principles of bioclimatism, taking into account the orientation of the building in order to optimise exposure to sunlight. The design goes even further today. In order to limit exposure to radiation, the electric grid is built in such a way that the sleeping quarters can be disconnected from all electric and electromagnetic flow with just the flick of a switch.

“It has been proven that living in a wooden house is an ideal antidote to modern stress. We also create a protective cocoon, allowing you to recover, relax, and enjoy the calm”, says Martignoni.

This is not to mention the incomparable, sweet and restorative scent of the wood itself, which soothes both the body and the soul.