Filmmaker’s Hut by Pirinen & Salo

Filmmaker’s Hut by Pirinen & Salo is a small, shingle-clad workspace on the shore of Lake Porovesi, Finland. Rejecting the conventions of contemporary Nordic architecture, the space draws inspiration from 1980s action cinema.

Led by Teemu Pirinen and Lauri Salo, Filmmaker’s Hut reflects the Finnish design practice’s made-to-measure approach. With offices in Helsinki and Inari, the duo works across Northern Europe and North America, designing both buildings and objects. Their commitment to narrative-driven design is evident in the hut’s rich materiality and immersive atmosphere. 

The hut’s path follows Porovesi’s shoreline, leading to remnants of stone foundations in a small meadow, sheltered by towering pine trees. Blackened wooden stairs rise from the ruins to an arched window serving as the entrance. Inside, the workspace takes on a basilica-like form, with an arched ceiling and stone slab paving. At the eastern end of the main space, secondary functions are discreetly tucked away beneath a small mezzanine. A dark oak ladder leads up to the nook, where a circular window allows the morning sun to illuminate the workspace below. The hut’s northern aisle features an oak worktable complemented by John Tree’s Jiro Chair. A black cast iron fireplace sits opposite a substantial bookshelf, sound system and built-in sofa. Thoughtfully designed details enhance the space’s tactile and sensory experience, from softly contoured handles to the warm scent of leather. Filmmaker’s Hut is a tribute to its owner’s passion for escapist cinema—a secluded retreat where imagination takes form.