Rear View of the North Wing and Studio
Villa Hvitträsk near Luoma, Finland

Armas Lindgren designed the north wing at Hvitträsk for his family in collaboration with his partners, Eliel Saarinen and Herman Gesellius.  Originally built between 1901 and 1904, it featured log construction on its upper levels and included a tall log tower and cupola.  Lindgren moved out to establish his own practice in Helsinki in 1905, so his stay here was quite brief.  Gesellius took up residence in Lindgren's vacated wing shortly afterward, moving out of his own house across the courtyard.  He stayed on until his death in 1916, after which Saarinen took possession of the entire Hvitträsk complex.  A major fire in 1922 destroyed most of the north wing.  It appears that from historical photos, parts of the lower levels may have survived.  Eero Saarinen, Eliel's architect son, provided plans for a new north wing of his own design as seen here, built between 1929 and 1936 in more fire retardant materials.  The original sky-lit studio of the three architects is visible to the right of this picture.  It also connects with the Saarinen home a bit further off, but not quite visible, on the right.  Photograph taken in 1982 by Howard J. Partridge.

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