Accommodation and workspaces

The Barn at the Saari Manor has been renovated as a diverse workspacefor various art forms. The building contains a dance studio, four studios for visual artists and a woodworking shop.

The Residence does not have

• a darkroom
• a media room
• equipment for printing, pottery, graphics or textile work (apart from the sewing machine).

The workspaces in the Barn are equipped with

• a table (additional tables may be set up on trestles).
• internet connection (ethernet, optical fibre).

The workspaces do not include tools or equipment.

The Saari Residence does not have a Wi-Fi network.

The residence has a few projectors and a screen, which residents can borrow for their work if necessary. You can find more information below under Equipment/devices.

The Saari Residence decides on the use of the workspaces.

Studio 1, the large artist’s studio, located in the Barn, is bright and versatile. The space is divided into two parts, and one side is used for presentations and feedback sessions at pre-arranged times.

• The studio is equipped with a workbench. Trestle tables are available for assembly if needed.
• There are no standard tools/equipment in the workspace.
• The workspace has a wired internet connection.
• There are plenty of sockets in the space, including power sockets.
• As with all other parts of the barn, the artist’s studio is lit with natural daylight bulbs, providing a natural effect that does not cause eyestrain.
• The studio is south-facing, with deeply recessed windows (120 cm) providing soft lighting by preventing sunlight from shining directly into the space. The lighting is uniform and glare-free; external light can be reduced and controlled by curtains.
• The studio has a water outlet with a sink.
• The flooring is light green plastic-coated concrete.
• Area: ca. 50 m2
• Height: 295 cm
• Door dimensions: 125 x 205 cm

Studio 2, the artist’s studio, located in the Barn, is bright and well suited to a diverse range of uses.

• The studio is equipped with a workbench. Trestle tables are available for assembly if needed.
• There are no standard tools/equipment in the workspace.
• The workspace has a wired internet connection.
• There are plenty of sockets in the space, including power sockets.
• As with all other parts of the Barn, the artist’s studio is lit with natural daylight bulbs, providing a natural effect that does not cause eyestrain.
• The studio is south-facing, with deeply recessed windows (120 cm) providing soft lighting by preventing sunlight from shining directly into the space. The lighting is uniform and glare-free; external light can be reduced and controlled by curtains.
• The studio has a water outlet with a sink.The flooring is light green plastic-coated concrete.
• Area: 30 m2
• Height: 295 cm

Studio 3, the artist’s studio located in the barn, is bright and well suited to a diverse range of uses.

• The studio is equipped with a workbench. Trestle tables are available for assembly if needed.
• There are no standard tools/equipment in the workspace.
• There are plenty of sockets in the space, including power sockets.
• The workspace has a wired internet connection.
• As with all other parts of the barn, the artist’s studio is lit with natural daylight bulbs, providing a natural effect that does not cause eyestrain.
• The studio is south-facing, with deeply recessed windows (120 cm) providing soft lighting by preventing sunlight from shining directly into the space. The lighting is uniform and glare-free; external light can be reduced and controlled by curtains.
• The flooring is light green plastic-coated concrete.
• Area: 16,5 m2
• Height: 295 cm

Studio 4, the artist’s studio located in the Barn, is well suited to a diverse range of uses.

• The studio is equipped with a workbench. Trestle tables are available for assembly if needed.
• There are no standard tools/equipment in the workspace.
• There are sockets in the space, including power sockets.
• The workspace has a wired internet connection.
• As with all other parts of the barn, the artist’s studio is lit with natural daylight bulbs, providing a natural effect that does not cause eyestrain.
• The studio has no windows and is suitable for work where darkness is needed.
• The studio has a water outlet with a sink.
• The flooring is concrete.
• Area: 34 m2
• Height: 295 cm

The dance studio, located in the barn, was designed in cooperation with experts in the field.

• The room has two large wall mirrors, which can be curtained over if required.
• The dance studio has a sound system.
• The audio system is equipped with a Presonus AM8 -mixer, Tascam CD-200i CD/MP3 player and can be connected to a computer. It can also be connected to 1 or 2 microphones.
• The audio system uses Electro Voice’s four top/midtone speakers, as well as two subwoofers.
• The dance studio is lit with natural daylight bulbs, providing a natural effect that does not cause eyestrain.
• Dance floor area: 11 x 11 m
• Height: 280 cm
• The flexible floor provides a safe surface for dancing.

The woodworking shop, located in the barn, is a well-equipped workspace with all the basic tools and equipment required for working with wood and other materials. Due to safety reasons, we require that anyone working in the shop be trained in the use of machinery and attend a separate briefing before starting their work. The equipment in the shop includes:

• Basic hand tools
• Planing bench
• Electric planer
• Bandsaw
• Mitre saw
• Electric chainsaw
• Jigsaw
• Cordless screwdrivers and hammer drill
• Table saw and handheld circular saw
• Grinder and small angle grinder
• Shop vacuum
• Water supply
• Room size: 45 m2
• Room height: 310 cm

The shop is also equipped with machining tools, such as a large angle grinder and welding equipment, the use of which must be agreed upon separately.

Outbuildings

Groups working at the Residence during summer months may also work in the unheated outbuildings. The Jacob’s barn (Jaakobinlato) is suitable, for example, for use by circus or theatre collectives, and other outbuildings may be used as shared workspaces. The Residence staff will provide guests with a tour of the facilities at the start of their residency periods.

Jacob’s barn is available only in summertime.

• Floor area: 20 x 9 meters.
• Height: 8 meters.
• In the middle of the barn is a balcony 4.5 meters off the ground.
• There are four buttresses under the balcony (height approx. 3.5 meters).
• The floor is raw wood planks.
• Wired internet connection.
• Door dimensions: 3.7 x 3 meters.

Equipment/devices

As a general rule, residents should bring their personal computers and other devices needed for their work, such as cameras.

Residents may also use the shared iMac and printer-scanner unit in the Barn.

Equipment available for loan at the Residence include:

• a couple of video projectors and screens
• camera tripod (SLIK PRO 400DX) with pan-tilt and video head
• illuminated Artograph LightPad 950 work surface (432 x 610 mm)
• easel
• Speakes (Genelec).

Resident accommodation is distributed among the Kitchen Wing and Footman’s Wing in the side yards and the Farmhand’s Cottage in the park area. There are 9 apartments for residents. Larger apartments are intended for literary artists, researchers and artists with families. The Farmhand’s Cottage has a shared kitchen, and other apartments have a kitchen or kitchenette with basic amenities. Each apartment has an en suite shower and toilet.

For individual residency periods, the stay includes a monthly grant, a personal apartment and a private workspace, while groups may need to live in shared accommodations. The Residence provides bed linen, sheets, towels and toilet paper. The apartments are mainly heated by geothermal heating. Electricity and internet access are included.

The Saari Residence reserves the right to decide on all living arrangements.

Kitchen wing

Apartment 2

The three-room apartment in the kitchen wing (79 m²) is intended for artists or researchers doing written work. The apartment is suitable for families. The apartment is accessible.

• workroom, that can be converted into an assistant’s bedroom if necessary
• spacious bedroom
• living room
• fully equipped kitchen, including dishwasher
• washing machine
• accessible shower and WC
• The porch has a lift embedded in the structure, allowing access to the porch and the front door with an assistive device.
• In the hallway there is a bench for ease of dressing.
• no thresholds
• wired internet connection (optical fibre)
• Accessible storage facilities.

Apartment 3A

The bright single-room apartment in the kitchen wing (28 m2) is intended for artists and researchers who have a separate workspace at the Saari Residence.

• kitchenette with dishwasher, microwave, but no regular oven
• wired internet connection (optical fibre)
• Shower/WC

Apartment 3B

The small two-room apartment in the kitchen wing (21 m2) is intended for artists and researchers who have a separate workspace at the Saari Residence.

• kitchenette with dishwasher, microwave, but no regular oven
• wired internet connection (optical fibre)
• small separate bedroom
• Shower/WC

Footman wing

Apartment 4

During individual residency periods, this two-room flat (59 m2) in the footman wing is used by the Saari Invited Artist. In the summer, the apartment is reserved for groups.

• Fully equipped kitchen, including dishwasher
• large living room and workspace
• bedroom
• washing machine
• shower/WC
• wired internet connection (optical fibre)

Apartment 5

The spacious two-room apartment in the footman wing (58 m2) is intended for artists and researchers doing written work. The apartment is suitable for families.

• Fully equipped kitchen, including dishwasher
• large living room with workspace
• digital piano (Yamaha CVP 505 Clavinova)
• bedroom
• shower/WC
• wired internet connection (optical fibre)

Farmhand’s cottage

Shared kitchen in the farmhand’s cottage

The breakfast kitchen in the farmhand’s cottage is suitable for cooking smaller meals.

• The breakfast kitchen in the Farmhand’s cottage is suitable for cooking smaller meals, and the Barn kitchen is also available.
• In addition to kitchenware, it is equipped with a stove, dishwasher and refrigerator.

Apartment 1

The larger two-room west-facing apartment in the farmhand’s cottage (32 m2) is intended for artists and researchers doing written work.

• shared kitchen
• workroom with sofa bed
• bedroom
• shower/WC
• wired internet connection (optical fibre).

Apartment 2

The larger two-room east-facing apartment in the farmhand’s cottage (35 m2) is for artists and researchers doing written work.

• shared kitchen
• workroom with sofa bed
• bedroom
• shower/WC
• wired internet connection (optical fibre).

Apartment 3

The smaller two-room west-facing apartment in the farmhand’s cottage (22 m2) is intended for artists and researchers doing written work.

• shared kitchen
• workroom
• bedroom
• shower/WC
• wired internet connection (optical fibre).

Apartment 4

The smaller two-room east-facing apartment in the farmhand’s cottage (25 m2) is intended for artists and researchers doing written work.

• shared kitchen
• workroom
• bedroom
• shower/WC
• wired internet connection (optical fibre).

We encourage interaction among our residency guests. For this reason, we offer various types of shared facilities.

There are also plenty of outbuildings and other cold spaces around the manor that artists are welcome to use, but these will be agreed on a case-by-case basis. The lush park is open to guests from spring to autumn.

The communal kitchen is a great place to cook and eat with a large group.

• The shared kitchen in the Barn is intended for all residency guests.
• The cosy well-equipped kitchen is equipped with tableware, stove, oven, coffee maker, electric kettle, dishwasher and a refrigerator.

The computer facility in the manor barn is intended for all residency guests.

• iMac
• printer-scanner
• wired internet connection (optical fibre).

Barbecue gazebo

Designed by Jan-Erik Andersson, the barbecue gazebo – a.k.a. the Barbecue Lover’s Carousel Pavilion – near the barn is intended for residency guests and serves as a place for meetings or for reading alone and enjoying the view while also serving as a sculpture-like landmark.

• Its shape was inspired by Andersson’s childhood memories of carousels, hexagonal dance pavilions and countryside milk platforms.
• In Andersson’s structure, coloured steel beams meet the materials and hues of nature. The roof is made of reeds, and the base was cast in holes dug in the ground.
• The floor has an ornamental pattern called Dance of the Soy Sausages.

The wood-fired sauna by the pond in the park at Saari Manor is intended for residents.

The sauna can be used together or alone.

Living room and library in the main building

The upstairs living room in the main building has a set of sofas, a meeting space and a small library.

• There is a projector and a screen.
• The living room is open to guests from September to April and by appointment only during the summer.
• The upstairs is sometimes used by Kone Foundation grantees for short periods of time. Then the space is not used by the residents. This will always be announced in advance.

Saari Manor is located in the middle of a level, open field on the eastern shore of Mynälahti bay; the Mynäjoki river flows on its south-eastern side. To the south and west, the manor is surrounded by fields, and to the north the area borders a forest. To the east is Saarentie road, on the other side of which are the manor’s old stone cowhouse, machine shed and a building for drying grain. To the south of Saaren rantatie road is a large cart shed.

The Saari Manor milieu is an important element in the Finland’s cultural history and one of the few remaining royal estates in Finland, known as kongsgårds, from when Finland was under Swedish rule. In addition to its designation as a royal estate, the manor functioned for a long time as a residence for officers.

From 1959 onwards, Saari Manor housed the Agricultural Research Centre’s test station for South-west Finland. Kone Foundation bought the Saari Manor buildings and park area in 2006 and some of its fields and forest in 2009. The Saari Residence started its operations in 2008.

The Saari Residence’s office premises for its staff are located in the main building. The residence’s apartments are located in the courtyard buildings close to the main building, known as the Kitchen and Footman’s Wing, and in the Farmhand’s cottage near the barn.

The Residence’s workspaces can be found in the stone barn built by Aleksander Aminoff in 1858, which originally accommodated 100 cows.

Main building

The late-Gustavian main building of Saari Manor dates back to 1779, but its cellars are thought to date back to the 1560s. Designed by Christian Friedrich Schröder, the building is a typical example of the building traditions of the Gustavian period and, upon completion, exhibited the architecture and fixtures of its era.

The main building with its hipped mansard roof has retained its Gustavian appearance on the outside, but the interior rococo fixtures – including doors, wainscoting and mouldings – were entirely removed during a renovation in the 1960s. Despite these changes, the main building is an architectural monument and is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency. This protection specifically concerns the manor’s external architecture, Schröder’s interior layout (which is still intact) and the cellars.

When Kone Foundation bought the mansion, the buildings were, in principle, in excellent condition but had been repaired for decades without any consideration for their value as cultural heritage. Kone Foundation decided to renovate the main building and restore it to its former glory. This extensive renovation was completed in 2008, and the Residence activities were set in motion the same year.

The main building contains Residence guests’ shared living room and a small library. The hall in the main building is where individual Residence guests assemble for lunch every Tuesday.

Kitchen Wing

The eastern courtyard building known as the Kitchen Wing was built at the same time as the main building. It is a log house with a purlin roof and an overhang corner and originally housed a baking room, kitchen and five habitable rooms. During a renovation by the previous owner in the 1960s, all its original mouldings and doors were removed. The building is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency and must retain its 18th century appearance on the outside.

Today, it houses three different-sized apartments for Residence guests, the largest of which is accessible, and the second smallest is dog-friendly.

Footman Wing

The western courtyard building known as the Footman Wing is identical to the Kitchen Wing on the outside. The Finnish Heritage Agency has ordered that the outward appearance and structures of the building be protected.

The Footman Wing has two large apartments for residence guests.

Farmhand’s cottage

In the area between Saarentie road and the park is the Saari Residence’s old farmhand’s cottage where Metsähallitus (Forest Administration) once maintained a small nature centre and exhibitions about the nature and wetlands of Mietoistenlahti.

The 4 apartments have a shared kitchen.

Outhouse

The small 19th century outhouse built from wood planks is slightly farther away from the central group of buildings. Its architraves, window frames, doors and door panels dating back to the early 19th century have been perfectly retained.

The entire building is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency and is out of use.

The Saari Manor milieu

Saari Manor is located close to the shore of Mietoistenlahti bay. Saari means “island” in Finnish and, true to its name, this was an island, surrounded by the sea, until the early 11th century. As a consequence of land uplift, however, it gradually merged into the mainland. The fields you see here today were once the seabed.

Mietoistenlahti, into which River Laajoki empties, is the remotest corner of Mynälahti bay, stretching far inland. On the eastern side, you will find a small inlet formed by the Mynäjoki river delta. As part of the Natura 2000 network, Mietoistenlahti is also a Special Protection Area for birds, as well as a nationally important nature reserve. Saari Manor is a built cultural environment of national importance and is also protected in accordance with the Antiquities Act due to its historical importance and cultural heritage.

Situated close to Saari Manor, Mietoistenlahti bay is one of the most valued waterways for birdwatching and an important resting place for migrating birds. Between late April and early May, there may be thousands of waterfowl resting in the bay at one time.

There are three birdwatching towers in the area, two of which are located in Vasikkahaka. The trail to the birdwatching towers begins at the nature centre’s car park. A third lower tower is located in Kuusto, and you can find it by following the signs from Saarentie road. There is also a rock suitable for birdwatching at Sillankari. In the summer of 2018, a new barrier-free birdwatching platform and a culture trail to complement the nature trail were opened close to Sillankari. The nature trail runs from the car park by the Saarentie birdwatching towers and through the forest, all the way to the Vasikkahaka birdwatching towers. Along the trail are noticeboards with information about the area’s nature.

Saari Residence is committed to taking care of the valuable cultural landscape surrounding the manor in accordance with the Finnish Heritage Agency’s instructions. In the summer, Saari Manor area is also tended by sheep, while cows look after the meadows by the shore and the Natura area.

Also in the vicinity of the Saari Manor is an old protected grove of oak trees.

READ MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SAARI MANOR

The Culture Trail runs from Saarenrantatie to the Vasikkahaka bird observation tower and was designed and is maintained collaboratively within the project Mietoistenlahti – Experiences in Nature for Everyone by Kone Foundation’s Saari Residence for artists and the Nature Conservation Association of the Mynämäki Region. The Culture Trail displays works by contemporary artists from different fields of art who have worked at Saari Residence.

The Culture Trail’s address is Saarenrantatie 21, 23140 Hietamäki. From the crossroads leading to the manor, walk on for about 50 metres, and the Culture Trail is on the right side of the road.  Alternatively, the Trail is accessible from the parking lot of the birdwatching towers at Saarentie 230, 23140 Hietamäki. Parking spaces are available in the parking area leading to the bird observation tower, located along Saarentie, and next to the Sillankari bird observation tower along Saarenrantatie.

This 500 metres long recreational route is open for everyone. Visitors on the Culture Trail are kindly requested to avoid moving around in the manor area to ensure peace and quiet for everyone working and residing in the Residence.

Accessibility

One of our apartments is barrier-free and has a kitchen, a barrier-free toilet and three rooms. For more information see “Apartments” on this page.

The main building of the Saari Residence is equipped with a lift. There was a comprehensive renovation in 2022 that involved repairing the floor on the first floor, improving the accessibility of the building and updating the staff facilities. Accessibility by wheelchair has also been improved by removing the thresholds in the building.

Accessibility challenges include the old buildings and rural landscape, protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency, the remote location of the residence and the scarcity of public transport. Because the old manor buildings are protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency, they cannot be renovated to make them completely accessible. With every renovation, it is necessary to consider how the new solutions can be adapted to the protected building or space.

In spring 2023, we started working with Riesa Consultative to assess how we can make the residence more accessible and usable. Future renovations will be carried out using the expertise of accessibility experts.

The Saari Residence’s residency programme is based on encounters and, during individual residencies, also on the fact that the artists will stay and live on the site for two months. At the Saari Residence, joint events, encounters and discussions are held in English.

Shorter group residencies in the summer may be better suited, for example, for groups of artists in need of support who are focusing on their group’s activities on their own terms.

Measures and perspectives related to accessibility are not a static state but require constant updating through feedback and the changes made based on the feedback. We welcome feedback and suggestions on accessibility.

If you are interested in applying for a residency at the Saari Residence, please CONTACT US to discuss whether we will be able to accommodate your accessibility requirements during your stay.

Equality and a safer space

We are committed to working for equality. We follow and expect all our residents to adhere to the principles of a bolder and safer space.

The Saari Residence welcomes people of all genders, abilities, ages, cultures, and sexualities.

• Everyone can decide by what name and pronoun they will be called.
• We have a zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination, such as racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or ableist comments, sexual harassment, or bullying.
• We do not tolerate violence, vandalism or any other harmful acts.
• We want to create and provide the best possible working environment for everyone.
• The keywords are respect, collaboration and safety.
• Everyone has a right to work in an environment that supports creativity, encourages consideration and respectful and non-sexualized working relationships.
• What we mean by harassment: any behaviour that is offensive, hostile, humiliating or intimidating. It is behaviour that causes stress, fear, or anxiety on the harassed person and also a behaviour that sexualizes the place.
• The Harassment contact person at Saari is Iiris Lahti (iiris.lahti@koneensaatio.fi).