Concept design: NLUX STAY
CASE: country spa & resort grankulla
The first villas were built by Pori merchant-barons and industrialists on the land of Yyteri Manor in Pihlava in the 1850s. Built by Fredrik Wilhelm Rosenlew, Grankulla, with all its beauty and originality, is a haven of peace for the busy city dweller and an easy place to come to.
An all-sensory experience with gardens and tennis courts, it's a journey back in time to the summer cottages of the late 19th century.
A dilapidated cottage renovated by two families has been a local cultural feat. Through the combined efforts of residents who believe in their own dreams, the area has become a more attractive place to live and spend leisure time.
The marina can be clearly classified as a desirable high-value real estate area. The area is well-preserved and of a high architectural standard, representative of the early villa culture in our country.
With the zoning of the Pihlava villa area, a comprehensive and truly business-oriented tourism area plan has been developed for the business sector in the area.
The zoning has helped to stabilise the area and the fear of expropriation by industry in the 1980s and the image of dilapidated villas near the landfill sites have disappeared.
Yyteri has been identified as the top market for Satakunta - the region's strengths are the sea and nature, and the River Experience.
The region's culture and history are also strengths that should be highlighted in the marketing of tourism in the area.
The Country Spa & Resort project has been developed from the idea of building an urban country spa in Finland's most attractive tourist resorts.
The aim was to find a new type of alternative to institutional hotels, giant spa projects, traditional farm tourism and conventional holiday cottage tourism.
The owner's idea was to recreate the summer holiday homes of the former nobility. Stay on the villa's grounds but enjoy hotel-style facilities.
In practice, nothing new was invented, but the culture of service enjoyed by wealthy families at the turn of the century was restored. For the domestic tourism market, the concept offered a new segment - somewhere between the traditional hotel and the cottage culture.
The sense of unhurriedness of the villa environment provides a much-needed counterbalance to hectic everyday life. You can relax by recharging your batteries with tranquillity, pampering treatments, culinary delights or peaceful excursions in the surrounding nature. Each season tunes guests into a different atmosphere.
The silence and peace are best experienced at dusk in winter, when the light flooding into the villa amidst the white pine trees creates a unique atmosphere.
A distinctive culture was productised for today's needs - a tradition of pre-industrial and industrial families into a modern wellbeing service concept amidst a precious cultural landscape.
Finns are at the heart of wellness thinking - saunas have always been a source of mind and body wellbeing, peace, moderation and balance. We want to recapture that image that has been lost over time, to tap into the potential that already exists and renew it in a fresh way.
Customer feedback
'In Grankulla, time stops and stress is forgotten. The whole body and mind relaxes.'
'It looks like a dignified and peaceful place where I can take my loved ones to have the luxury of going just once.'
'A wonderful idyll. Perfect pampering and peace of mind! Beauty for the eyes and the mind.'
'Elegant, off-the-mainstream ideas and executions for your party. Each and every one a stunning ensemble.'
