Project Ö - Gåsskären

A Haven in the Wild, Untamed Elements

One cabin in the internationally acclaimed collection of isolated retreats by Finnish designers Aleksi Hautamäki and Milla Selkimaki, featured in Dezeen, Dwell, Designboom, and Financial Times as well as in Condé Nast Traveler, Konfekt and Gestalten books, this isolated cabin allows you to experience nature in its most raw, wild, and pure form.

Set on the largest islet in a micro archipelago of 10 rocky outcroppings in the open sea, this modernized fisherman’s cabin is surrounded by decks for dining, cooking, and soaking in the wood-fired hot tub. A separate structure houses the cabin’s shower and toilet, and there is a natural dock next to the buildings, shielded from the arctic wind. Although remote, the island boasts well water, as well as solar electricity backed up by battery.

With sea views in two directions, peaked ceilings and an abundance of warm wood paneling hung with blackout curtains, this space was made for deep, rejuvenating rest. There are two, stacked double beds laid with organic cotton sheets and a variety of pillows. The living room is warmed by a fireplace, and the compact kitchen lets you cook for four, with a gas hob, blender, Moka express and fridge/freezer, with adjacent indoor dining and a pair of outdoor tables and wraparound decks to choose from. There's a fire pit for campfire cooking, and the “outhouse” is fully modernized—a private shower cabin and biological toilet, a shower with views to the open sea and flaming sunsets, and a wood-heated hot tub just out its door with a sauna tent adding to the allure, and the adjacent archipelago waters serving as a natural cold plunge.

To see all Project Ö homes, click here.

Around

The islets in this micro archipelago in the greater Finnish archipelago are a cluster of 10, the two largest of them making of a four-hectare area of wild, rocky outcroppings shaped by water, flush flora, and small fauna. The wildlife includes birds, butterflies, small rodents and the occasional deer, and the cabin is tucked into the stark boulders and patches of green shrub. A small bay next to the buildings creates a natural dock shielded from the winds. Activities range from water-based adventures—kayaking, boating, island hopping, and swimming—to slow-living pastimes like cooking, reading and stargazing. Breakfast/lunch basket delivery is possible as is a captained boat to drive you to larger nearby islands for dinner at local restaurants. Your only task here might be to light the hot tub fires and remove your watch, allowing for deep connection to nature and contemplation of nature’s elements, life, and the notion of nothingness.

Location

N 59.82681073091279, E 22.401796809522885, Archipelago National Park, southwest, Finland. Nearest airport: Helsinki, 2.5 hours to Kasnäs, then boat transfer (included) from Kasnäs to the island, 30 minutes

Best time to visit

April to October