Short cuts
Finnish knowhow in log construction from Ikihirsi to the President of Russia
19.09.2011
Puukeskus delivered a representational and holiday residence for the President of Russia in the Kola Peninsula together with other cooperation partners, with Ikihirsi Oy being among them.
The holiday area named Otso, after the name of the President Dmitri Medvedev (and meaning a "bear"), is at the end of a roadless stretch of land by the Umba River, around 55 kilometres by helicopter. The exact location of the residence is not disclosed for security reasons. The buyer and owner of the holiday village is PhosAgro, a company that is considered one of the largest producers of fertilizers in the world. The company built this representational and holiday residence for the visits of the President of Russia.
The holiday and representational area features a 540 square metre main log building, which includes a sauna, yoga room, cinema, office and bedroom for the President, a kitchen and a living room with a fireplace. There is also a separate sauna house together with a swimming pool (120 m2). The area includes three 100 m2 log houses for VIP guests, and a 360 m2 building designed for service personnel. The area also includes a quay built for a fishing boat, bridges for crossing the stream and many other features. A church is also ready in Rovaniemi, which is awaiting transportation and a round gilt cupola produced in Russia.
Puukeskus is responsible for the entire project. The practical work has been carried out together with carefully selected subcontractors. Puukeskus delivered all that was necessary for the construction and also supervised the construction work. The whole project has rested on the shoulders of the Sales Manager responsible for the operations of Puukeskus outlets in Rovaniemi, Tornio and Oulu, Juhani Juotasniemi, and he has been helped by the Construction Engineer Edward Chirokov, who is working in the Rovaniemi unit of Puukeskus and is fluent in the Russian language.
The buildings are made from laminated logs. The critical aspects in addition to log construction know-how included fire safety and ventilation, among others. Building with a Russian workforce and using local raw materials would have cost less, but the client insisted on the quality and the buyer on Finnish technology and skills. Materials were delivered with helicopters and with a specially equipped caterpillar machine.
The contract was signed in December 2010 and the work was started around February and March. The holiday residence area was completed by 1 September 2011 in line with the contract. Juhani Juotasniemi and Edward Chirokov handed the completed residence over to the President Dmitri Medvedev on 8–9 September. The delivery event was also attended by the main owner of the company PhosAgro, Andrei Guriev.
