Hakoapajan Aikhituvat – Art and Buildings of Primeval Log

www.porosalmi.net/hakoapaja 

Open to public:
Hakovuori mountain terrace-café, and the art and log building exhibitions 26rd Jun–1rd Aug 2010,
daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 
Hosted evenings with open-fire delicacies and admittance to the exhibitions 25rd Jun–30th Jul 2010, Wed, Fri and Sat 6 p.m.–8p.m. 

Culture vacation in a log cabin, or a family holiday by a sandy lakeshore

Lakeshore cabins by an inland lake and by the great Saimaa lake. Most cabins come with own beach, sauna and row boat. The unique cabins by the inland lake have a special atmosphere created by the primeval logs that the cabins are built of. The cabins by Saimaa are ideal for families with children because of the shallow south beach next to them. The view opens over the lakeland archipelago of Linnansaari national park.

Unique surroundings for private celebrations, courses and conferences, etc.
Hakoapaja village’s massive main building of almost 1000 sq m consists of the Aikhitupa room built of primeval logs, the Savotta Sali hall with float timber walls, and the new (2008) kitchen, social facilities, and fireplace room. The versatile premises serve as a conference room and restaurant, and are well suited for different festivities. Size of the group 10–200 persons. The unique character of Hakoapaja village gives its own additional colour to any family celebration, or to a course or conference. All occasions are designed according to the group’s wishes, and a tour of the exhibitions can be included in the programme. From the Hakovuori mountain outlook terrace opens a spectacular view over the inland lake – the source from which the artist and log builder Esa Heiskanen himself has raised the millenniums-old logs to build his village. The covered glass terrace of over 100 sq m provides pleasant settings for dining and coffee breaks in the summer when the exhibition takes over the main building. All game dinners and other meals are prepared in Hakoapaja’s own kitchen. Sauna services are available to groups of all sizes – by the lakeshore are two regular saunas, two smoke-heated saunas, and two fireplace cabins. A more recent addition to the village is the Korppivuoren Pirtti cabin, which has a grand location on a steep mountainside. Built of float timber with an area of 100 sq m, this building also provides versatile premises for conferences, festivities or exhibitions. The cabin has served even as a wedding chapel.

The primeval log exhibition takes the visitor millenniums back in time
The Aikhitupa room built of ancient logs and the Savotta Sali hall, which with its float timber walls is a tribute to the hard work of past lumberjacks, are themselves worth seeing. Inside, the visitor can experience a curious world of hard work, creativity and mystery – an interesting combination that brings together the three-decade toil of one man and the history of his family and the area. In the exhibition the visitor can learn about the process of lifting the logs from the lake, and of the construction of the buildings, and in addition, e.g., wonder at the findings from a wartime weapons cache. The grooved logs serve as frames for the results of the log builder’s more sensitive creative side; the works painted during cold winter months reflect the time before us – the Big Bang and the ice age.  

RumaPuu “UglyWood” Exhibition juxtaposes ideas of beauty to amuse the artist himself as well as the visitor
In the summer in 2007 opened the Korppivuoren Pirtti cabin, where the RumaPuu “UglyWood” exhibition tells the tail of an ancient forest that once sunk in the depths of the inland lake. It supplements the other exhibitions by taking a look at the history of the primeval logs from a new angle. Wood grooved by water and time, in all its ugliness, is the material and source of inspiration for this exhibition. For the artist and log builder himself, the juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness serves as a counterbalance to his long hard work – and for the visitor, hopefully as an adventure and an entrance into new thoughts. This summer the existing exhibition will not change but extends with new interesting parts. UglyWood 2008 demonstrates, e.g., the different phases and methods of log building. 
The exhibitions are open to public 26rd Jun–1rd Aug 2010, daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
On an independent tour around the exhibitions the visitor gets a numbered guide leaflet. Allow 1–1,5 hours for the tour. Prices to be announced later.

Hakovuori mountain terrace-café and Hakoapaja´s popular hosted evenings with open-fire delicacies continue serving summer visitors
From the new glass terrace of the Hakovuori mountain café opens a magnificent view over the inland lake – the source from which the building materials for the whole village have been raised. The café serves fresh homemade pastries and savouries. (People with special diets have been considered.) Hakoapaja’s hosted summer evenings are open to all visitors. Fun outdoor games include, e.g., axe throwing competitions. On these evenings it is possible to dine on the outlook terrace; on the menu are all kinds of delicacies including game stew, oven-baked potatoes, and fish and pancakes made on open fire. Those interested in culture can take a tour around the exhibitions and then find the artist-builder to ask more questions or to chat for a moment. The idea of these evenings is that the log builder himself is present for the visitors to meet him. The aim is to also arrange live performances and something special for children. 

Hakovuori mountain terrace-café open to public
26rd Jun–1rd Aug 2010, daily 11a.m.–7 p.m.

Location:
About 6 km from Rantasalmi village centre towards Varkaus, turn right to Porosalmi. About 3 km ahead is a signpost for Hakoapajan Aikhituvat.55 km from Savonlinna, 38 km from Varkaus. 

Contact info:

Hakoapajan Aikhituvat, Esa Heiskanen
Address: Porosalmentie 370, 58900 Rantasalmi
Tel. +358-(0)400-939970 
E-mail: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Internet: www.porosalmi.net/hakoapaja