Tour Grandpa Aaro’s whimsical cottage world—complete with a spruce treetop sunroom
Grandpa Aaro’s old yard is a cherished haven for children and the young at heart. The first construction on the family’s cottage grounds was the Kesäpäivä House, rich in Karelian style.
On Grandpa Aaro’s property, creativity was never held back, whether he was building a new cottage or redecorating an older one in the same style. He didn’t ask others what they thought about building a house in a tree or placing a Western-style village in the middle of a rural Finnish area. He built whatever he liked, and now future generations get to enjoy the results of his unique work.
A log cottage in Piippola
We are the descendants of Grandpa Aaro Vatanen, spanning three generations.
Cottage The main cottage was built in the 1920s and relocated here in the 2000s. There are also many different buildings for various needs.
Where In Siikalatva in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland.
Aaro Vatanen had purchased a small log-framed house in Tampere, intending to set it up as a cottage in a smaller town. When the house was raised, it grew taller. Later, the builder recalled thinking you can’t just reconstruct it as it was—you have to leave your own trace.
Right after moving the house, Grandpa visited White Karelia in Russia, and got ideas for its decorations. It was also the first of his buildings that the poetic Grandpa named: he called it Kesäpäivä, “Summer’s day”. There's a spot to have coffee in the tower.
“My oldest sister has reminisced about how everything tasted especially good when having coffee in the tower. Kesäpäivä House has a wonderfully calm atmosphere,” says Aaro’s granddaughter Pauliina Kivioja.
Grandpa’s other granddaughter Sara Vatanen also says Kesäpäivä is her favorite building.
“It’s always been so unusual and amazing. Though as kids, we seldom spent time indoors here. We played yard games and ate Grandma’s treats in different spots for coffee breaks,” Sara Vatanen recalls.
The family’s oldest children were born in the 1950s and 1960s. Grandpa built them a playhouse, which got plenty of use at the time. Once they outgrew it, the playhouse was removed from the yard. Later, a new one was needed for his youngest daughter. It eventually stood empty for a long while—until grandchildren started running around the property. Grandpa felt the playhouse needed an upgrade then: a new floor, a porch, and more ornaments. This cute little house was named Kevätaamu (“Spring morning”).
Next up in the owner’s projects was a small cottage that had stood in the yard for decades, originally bought from a campground. It was transformed into the soft blue Päiväuni (“Daydream”).
One building was constructed over the yard’s well. Grandpa had heard about the restaurant Kaivohuone (“Well room”) in Helsinki, so he named his building after it.
“My younger sister thought it looked so much like a church that she called it Vesikirkko (Water church),” recalls Pauliina Kivioja.
Even though the property includes almost a hectare (about 2.5 acres) of yard, Grandpa decided to build his next house in a tree. That’s how Pilvilinna, “Cloud castle”, was born. A spruce forest had grown up after the family got tired of hunting for the perfect Christmas tree and planted their own Christmas tree grove—although the trees soon grew beyond Christmas-tree size.
Grandpa hauled the materials up all by himself and built the stairs only after the cottage was finished. The house has a small room plus a covered terrace for coffee breaks.
“My younger sister’s spouse wanted to sleep in Pilvilinna. He said that swaying among the treetops felt like truly dreaming in a cloud castle,” Pauliina Kivioja says.
Once there were enough large houses, Grandpa began examining the village church in miniature form. Soon, many small-scale models started taking shape, requiring a space of their own. Hence, a loft had to be added to the Kesäpäivä House.
Grandpa’s creativity really shined in the miniature Western village. He said he had been interested in the Old West since his school days. Grandpa needed to reach the age of 83 and visit Western-themed towns in the United States and Spain before his vision took shape. Now Silver Valley boasts over 20 small buildings, from saloons to hotels and a church.
Grandpa’s descendants keep his legacy alive. His youngest daughter lives on the property and takes care of the grounds. Aaro Vatanen’s grandchildren fondly recall the warm welcome they always received here and how their grandparents spent time with them.
“The place was safe and comforting, and it was always nice to visit,” says Pauliina Kivioja.
