Visiting Hvitträsk

We first took a guided tour of Hvitträsk's garden and then admired the interior spaces of the main building, often called a gem of national romantic architecture. It was interesting to hear and imagine how the landscapes and surroundings have both knowingly and presumably changed over more than a hundred years.

The architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen purchased the plot on the shore of Lake Vitträsk in Kirkkonummi in 1901. During the same year, the small villa was completed, and the main building followed two years later.

The buildings, designed as homes and an atelier, are on a high hill, and the gardens have sections on several different levels.

In the early 20th century, Jean Sibelius also visited these surroundings, possibly drawing inspiration for his music.

The main building features several stunning rooms and details, but look this atelier space: It's a serious case of window envy!

As an architecturally unrelated tidbit of gossip, I learned about The Bold and the Beautiful twists of their time:

After the main building was completed in 1903, Eliel Saarinen moved into the south wing with his wife Mathilda, Armas Lindgren and his family moved into the north wing, and Herman Gesellius moved into the small villa.

A year later, Eliel and Mathilda divorced and, on the same day, entered into new marriages; Eliel married Herman Gesellius's sister, and Mathilda married Herman. (At this point, the Lindgrens had apparently had enough and moved to Helsinki in 1905.)