13.09.2007

Villa Helmi – a floating model house

The main contractor for the model house Villa Helmi is Marina Housing Ltd. A team consisting of architects Kari Ristolainen (SAFA) and Timo Urala is responsible for the design of this new creation in which one has been able to combine a whole new structure with a refurbished test house Villa Tähti (Star) and make it into an eye-pleasing total design that fits well into the surroundings. This stylish model house exemplifies the joined technological know-how of Europe’s leading pier constructor and experienced house pontoon designer - Marinetek Finland Ltd. - and another pioneering company representing the light-weight, yet very rigid cellular construction Fixcel – the latter company known as Neapo Ltd. This total solution is especially suitable and applicable to floating buildings.

Villa Helmi is loaded with innovations, fine technological details, latest modern architecture along with chic solutions in interior design. For example, the second generation Marinetek house pontoons feature an integrated sewage and balancing system. The house is is securely moored with seaflex rubber cables to massive concrete anchors on the sea floor. Therefore, Villa Helmi is never unstable while it is floating at a constant level.

You can find Villa Helmi equipped with the latest hi-tech, such as an air heat pump, energy-saving machine-assisted ventilation and air conditioning. The exterior walls are made of fibre plastering and the roomy terraces of plastic wood. In many details found in these spacious and well-lit interiors leading Scandinavian brands in pioneering design have been relied on, such as BoConcept (furniture), HTH (kitchen), Rais (fireplace), Inredningsglas (glass furniture) and Bang & Olufsen (audio-visual entertainment electronics).
Villa Helmi, just like all floating houses and villages by Marina Housing, follows an environmentally friendly philosophy in its construction. There is very little interference with the natural surroundings, as the only contact to the  environment consists of four concrete anchors on the sea floor. All of the used water in this house is pumped back to the sewage system run by the city of Espoo. The very best with Villa Helmi is perhaps its direct contact to the water, the open seaside view to all directions as well as the private boat parking next to the residence. This is maritime lifestyle at its very best.

”As a representative of unusually high quality solutions Villa Helmi is able to make us reconsider our old prejudices concerning living in a floating house. This example shows very vividly and convincingly that the solutions provided by Marina Housing are not only stylish and safe but they can offer you a very relaxing life style. We are firmly convinced that the markets for the floating houses will rapidly grow also in Finland, along with the rest of the world,” says the CEO of Marina Housing, Mr. Kimmo Anttalainen.

For additional information, please, contact:

Kimmo Anttalainen
CEO
Marina Housing
0400 794617
kimmo.anttalainen@marinahousing.fi

Ilkka Seppälä
Chairman of board
Marina Housing
050 5522222
ilkka.seppala@marinetek.net

Olli Vuola
CEO
NEAPO
040 555 4646
olli.vuola@neapo.com