A Finnish couple spent five years searching Google Maps and government property records for an island they could call their own before discovering a 5-acre patch of land in the country’s vast archipelago. Aleksi Hautamäki and Milla Selkimäki had explored the region for years and wanted a secluded place that was remote enough to feel like an escape but still suitable for building a home. In 2018, they finally found the uninhabited island, then sold their Helsinki apartment to help fund the purchase and construction. They transformed the rocky landscape into Project Ö, a compact retreat made up of two buildings that together cover about 70 square metres. The home runs off-grid using solar power and filtered seawater, while its design takes cues from traditional Finnish cabins and Japanese minimalism.
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