“You’ll never find a house like this again,” Tuukka said to Aleksi when they half-jokingly visited a 1960s atrium open house
Weathered-pine ceilings, a swimming pool, slatted walls. Casa Granum is a showcase of 1960s architecture that preserved its original ambience in the renovation. “The Egg chair has been in the same spot in the living room since 1969.” Aleksi and Tuukka’s home in Tampere exudes the warmth of wood and terracotta, and at Christmastime, all they need for decoration are evergreens and candles.
When you step into Casa Granum, you take a trip back in time, charmed by an authentic atmosphere. The entrepreneurial couple Aleksi Siurola and Tuukka Hakkarainen skillfully renovated and decorated this 1960s home to make it modern while honoring its original spirit. The 350-square-meter single-family house, located on the slope of Epilänharju in Tampere, is Finnish architect Antero Sirviö’s masterpiece from the late 1960s.
The architect himself lived in the house until the end of his life. When Tuukka and Aleksi bought the spectacular house four years ago, they became only its second residents.
On the entry level of Casa Granum, you can see the large living room, dining area, and kitchen from the foyer. Behind the kitchen is the bedroom wing, which features the primary bedroom, a large dressing room, plus an office and guest room. Downstairs, there is a sauna, bathing facilities, and a swimming pool with a lounge area.
Who lives here Gusta Design vintage and antique store entrepreneur, 30-year-old Aleksi Siurola, and entrepreneur and real estate agent, 31-year-old Tuukka Hakkarainen.
Home Designed by architect Antero Sirviö and completed in 1969, the house in Epilänharju, Tampere, measures 350 square meters (3,767 sq ft).
How did you end up with such a large, old house?
Aleksi: We visited the house on a whim, even though we hadn’t really thought of moving out of the city center. Tuukka is a real estate agent and immediately said we might never see a house like this on the market again. We wondered if it would be too big for just us, but the downstairs pool area and sauna facilities take up much of the space, and the main living floor’s rooms all have a purpose.
Where does the house’s name come from?
Aleksi: We named the house Casa Granum to honor architect Antero Sirviö, who built it for his own family in 1969. The name comes from the granite blocks on the facade, which originally came from Satakunnankatu’s cobblestones in Tampere.
What changes did you make?
Aleksi: The house was in its original condition and needed a big renovation. We love its architecture. Throughout the remodel, we kept the original feel but fixed everything necessary. The yellowed wood surfaces and the slatted wall were sanded and treated in a slightly darker, cooler shade than the original brown.
Tuukka: I’ve been a real estate agent for a long time and knew how to budget for the repairs. When we renovated the kitchen and dining area, we adjusted the floor plan a bit to create more space in the kitchen. We also renovated the bathrooms, plumbing, and drains, and modernized the structural solutions in the pool area.
How did you achieve the style and ambiance you wanted?
Aleksi: The furniture is mostly Danish and Finnish from the home’s era. We brought some pieces from our old place and combined them with items from my business, Gusta Design, which focuses on 1950s and 1960s design. From the original owners, we acquired Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair, which has been in the same spot in the living room since 1969.
The couple’s favorite detail is the old slatted wall by the entryway. After the renovation, the slat design is also repeated in the bedroom and pool area walls.
Which feature in your home do you think turned out especially well?
Aleksi: The overall interior design. In terms of details, we especially love the slatted wall in the entryway. A dream of mine was Eero Saarinen’s Tulip dining table, which we bought secondhand. We love the pool area and enjoy the sauna and swimming with friends. The atrium courtyard provides wonderful extra space during the warm season, and it’s equally impressive in winter.
What kind of Christmases have you spent here?
Aleksi: Since we were still renovating during our first Christmas here, 2024 marked our third proper celebration. We spend Christmas Eve and the holidays with our families, but really we celebrate Christmas all through December. On Finland's Independence Day, we host our first Christmas dinner for friends.
What are the most important elements of the Christmas atmosphere?
Tuukka: Candles, evergreens, and music. Our friends say the house truly comes into its own at Christmas.
Aleksi: We combine old and new, design and craft. I struggled a bit with the color red, but then decided to group all the red items in one spot. Our “Christmas bar” now holds a Nutcracker, a glass apple, a red scented candle, and our wooden monkey with a Santa hat. There’s also red in the flowers.
What are the most important decorations?
Tuukka: Christmas starts when we take out the little wooden Santa hat we bought for Kay Bojesen’s wooden monkey. The monkey guards our Christmas bar. Aleksi’s beloved vintage Timo Sarpaneva’s Arkipelago candleholders only come out at Christmas, and we fill them with green and white candles.
What is indispensable for your Christmas?
Aleksi: It’s hard to imagine Christmas without a tree. It adds just the right magic. We have several trees—there’s even a small one in the pool area—and we put a spruce or pine in the yard too. But the most important one is in the living room. Last Christmas, we spent three hours searching until we found the perfect one.
Wood surfaces, muted tones, and organically shaped mirrors soften the sharp lines and hard surfaces in the bathrooms.
The atrium courtyard at the heart of the house becomes festive with lanterns and evergreen decorations. Once furniture is draped in sheepskins, you can enjoy mulled wine out there even in winter.
