LuxLine

The architect Birgitta Hjelm-Luontola won first prize in the Residential Buildings category at the 11th edition of the Grand Prix for her project Lux Line.

The project is located in Pori, a historic town in Finland and the capital of the local district. The town is also known by the name Karhukunnat, which translates literally as “bear towns”. Founded in 1558 on the banks of the River Kokemäenjoki, it became – at the end of the 16th century – the area’s main trading port for luxury goods, spices, wine and fabric. The design choices for the home were heavily influenced by nature, making full use of the natural light and opening up the space to showcase its stunning river setting.

Porcelain stoneware from the Marmoker collection are used for flooring and other tiling, striking an ingenious and harmonious balance with rough stone and the warmth of wood. The need to use a material that was resistant, durable, easy to maintain and available in large sizes and with a glossy finish led the designer to choose the marble-effect porcelain stoneware tiles from the Marmoker collection.

In the spa and bathroom, the designer chose the Statuario Grigio colour, opting for the 90x45 cm (35 5/8"x 17 3/4") format for the flooring and the larger59x118 cm (23 1/4"x46 1/2") format to create dividing walls. Meanwhile, the Grafite colour and 88x88 cm format were chosen for the lounge, bedrooms, corridors, stairs and the utility closet in the spa. During the design phase, Hjelm-Luontola invested a lot of care and attention into choosing the right glossy surface, which she uses for both the porcelain stoneware flooring and walls and in the kitchen, where the surfaces reflect the light, creating a sense of continuity throughout the home. Indeed, the name ‘Lux Line’ came about from this desire to express this concept.

Birgitta Hjelm