“I’m really attached to the view”: Tytti-Lotta and her children watch storks and sunsets from their 1960s rowhouse
There was plenty of square footage, but it was all in the wrong places. Finnish Tytti-Lotta Ojala restored the original 1960s spirit that was lost in an ’80s renovation of her rowhouse. By removing one bedroom, she gained an expansive dining area for evening get-togethers and board game nights. “I have a desire to bring people together.”
The view made a strong impression on Tytti-Lotta Ojala six years ago, when she first visited this 1967-built rowhouse. Poplar, honeysuckle, and a cherry tree flourish in the lush yard, and you can catch a glimpse of the sea behind them. Badgers, deer, and a nightingale are frequent visitors to the grounds.
“I’m truly attached to this view; it still moves me. My favorite spot is on the sofa by the living room’s large window. I sit and watch as the sun sets behind the yard trees. With the kids, we keep an eye out for the storks to arrive. I love how nature’s cycle comes right indoors.”
The home was originally a group-building project by ten families, with architects Antero and Ulla Markelin. The person who had this particular apartment built was Osmo A. Wiio (1928–2013), a well-known communications professor. Tytti-Lotta and her children are the home’s third residents.
“The original room layout was a bit unusual. There was plenty of square footage, but it was in the wrong places. The biggest change was opening up the dining area into one large space. The home had been renovated in the ’80s in that era’s style, and I’ve tried to bring back its original character and renovate as sustainably as possible. I kept any usable elements in place until they reach the end of their lifespan.”
In this rowhouse built in 1967, all the units share the same basic floor plan, but the original developer-residents were able to design materials and details together with the architects.
residents: Tytti-Lotta Ojala, 46, Director of the Institute of Design and Fine Arts at LAB University of Applied Sciences, and her children, ages 7 and 14.
home A two-story apartment in a rowhouse built in 1967 in Eastern Helsinki. The home measures 257 square meters (2,766 sq ft).
The dining area is the heart of the home. Around Ilmari Tapiovaara’s Pirkka table, Tytti-Lotta plays board games with her children and entertains guests. “In this home, I’ve fulfilled my dream of hosting big parties where everyone gathers around the table to eat and spend the evening. I have a desire to bring people together.” On the Danish sideboard sits Eeva-Riitta Eerola’s piece Turning point X. It reminds Tytti-Lotta of her late mother, who used to walk with her hair blowing in the wind.
“Chairs and lighting fixtures are my weakness. I probably have more of them in storage than I have installed. Most of these objects just found their way to me somehow, and they’re part of this perfectly imperfect home.”
“I can’t imagine buying a complete set straight from a catalog. When I discover something I really love, I try to make it fit in with what I already have,” Tytti-Lotta says. Maurice Burke’s round table and chairs are from a yard sale she visited during her student days in California. Marcel Breuer’s Wassily chairs from 1925 once belonged to a famous Finnish designer. Tuukka Tammisaari’s huge piece Lobster was painted on three sheets of plywood.
The nearby seaside park is still there, but the area is undergoing extensive development. “I’m saddened that the city planning doesn’t consider the remaining natural environment or how people really want to live,” Tytti-Lotta says. The fireplace is original. Wassily chair by Knoll.
“A well-designed product can handle not looking brand-new anymore.”
Tytti-Lotta wanted to keep the small kitchen typical of the 1960s, but she opened up the dining area by taking down one bedroom. Otherwise, she renovated as sustainably as possible: for example, she left the wet rooms untouched because they were still in good working order. The biggest single update was the floor. It’s oiled solid oak, intended to last at least a hundred years. On the wall is a piece by Liivia Sirola.
A skylight brings light into the kitchen. The plan was to order everything from a carpenter, but due to long delivery times, Tytti-Lotta chose IKEA frames and only ordered custom doors. She picked light marble for the countertop.
Tytti-Lotta was determined to save the original brass drawer pulls as a reminder of the home’s heritage. The face sculpture by Armi Teva was a gift from former coworkers. Tytti-Lotta bought the painting by Liivia Sirola for her 40th birthday, having been drawn especially to the artist’s use of color.
“If you live in an older house, a good carpenter is your best friend.”
The doors of this home are always open to guests, and there’s a separate guest room that frequently sees visitors. The room can also serve as a workspace when needed. The artwork on the wall was a wedding gift for Tytti-Lotta’s parents. She remembers admiring its 1950s craftsmanship as a child, and was delighted when her father gave it to her as a housewarming present. The Svenskt Tenn pillows were passed down from Tytti-Lotta’s mother.
There are no rugs in the upstairs living areas because Tytti-Lotta loves the feel of wood under her bare feet. An oriental silk rug adds warmth in the ground-floor bedroom. In both the bedroom and the living areas, there are no curtains, so the greenery outside and the evening sun can play freely across the walls. The Samuji House poster was illustrated by Antti Kalevi. Her daughter decorated the shade of the vintage floor lamp.
A fireplace in the bedroom brings a bit of luxury to daily life. Both fireplaces in the house are used frequently in winter. The rattan chair belonged to Tytti-Lotta’s late mother, and the stool came from her grandmother. “They may not be exactly my style, but they remind me of past generations and bring back fond memories,” Tytti-Lotta says. There are plenty of books in this home. There’s a separate library room upstairs, but bookshelves can be found throughout the house.
The seven-year-old daughter’s room is decorated in soft hues. The rug is from Morocco.
This little girl loves drawing and crafting, so her art supplies are always within reach. The Artek table set was purchased used. The artwork on the wall is by Tytti-Lotta’s former schoolmate, Siiri Pohjalainen. The ceiling lamp is a Lival fixture found at a flea market for her first apartment. The rattan cabinet holds the young lady’s most cherished treasures.
The stairway’s original railing and brass screws have fortunately been preserved. The railing is made of Douglas fir with impressively wide growth rings you seldom see today. The original pine ceiling remains as well. Tytti-Lotta commissioned sliding doors made of Douglas fir from a skilled carpenter, Pasi Pöljö, who has overseen many repairs in the house. “If you live in an old house, a good carpenter is your best friend,” Tytti-Lotta laughs.
This rowhouse home has 257 square meters (2,766 sq ft).
