In Finnish Lapland, the Kaamos Lodge resort was officially opened, representing one of the largest tourism investments in the region in recent years. At the heart of the resort are 80 underground concrete modular houses manufactured in Estonia by the Harju County–based company Revonia.
The project, completed through cooperation between the Estonian manufacturing company Revonia and the Finnish tourism company Explore the North, is significant both in scale and in its construction solution.
Whereas Lapland tourism has traditionally relied on simple wooden cabins, the Kaamos Lodge development took a different approach: the entire accommodation complex is made of concrete modules and built underground.
The opening of the center marks the successful completion of one of the Baltic States’ largest modular housing export projects. All 80 concrete modules were produced in Estonia, transported to the site fully finished, and installed locally. Each house has a floor area of 30 m², weighs 40 tonnes, and is located beneath up to one meter of soil. The entire process—from concept to engineering solution and installation—took a year and a half. This solution was deliberately chosen with the characteristics of the landscape in mind: since the resort is located on a hillside, the houses are arranged in tiers so that the grass roof of the front house forms the ground surface for the one behind it. This ensures that the buildings do not block each other’s expansive views of the valley while still maintaining privacy.
Although this is not Revonia’s first project in Finland, Kaamos Lodge marks an important milestone in establishing the company’s credibility in the Finnish market. According to Revonia CEO Rauno Oja, there has been a clear shift in the mindset of resort owners—investments are increasingly being made with a long-term perspective.
“We have previously built resorts in Finland, and we can see that Revonia has earned a solid reputation there thanks to our premium quality and our unique concrete modular system. Developers are no longer looking only for quick solutions; they are thinking about legacy—how to create a family business that lasts for generations,” Oja explained. “A concrete structure covered with soil also gives investors confidence that in 10 or 20 years the resort will still be structurally like new and will not require major renovation.”
Oja added that the choice of housing is also driven by changing expectations among Lapland visitors: “Today’s traveler, who flies to Lapland from the other side of the world, is more informed and demanding. The place where they stay is a major part of the travel experience and must be environmentally friendly. Our solution supports the growing sustainability trend while offering something completely different from a standard hotel room.”
Investment in the future of tourism
According to Johan Väisänen, CEO of Explore the North and owner of Kaamos Lodge, building 80 houses was a major risk, but the positive feedback received so far has confirmed the correctness of the decision.
“We wanted to create something that would stand out from typical Lapland accommodation—something different and eye-catching, yet extremely practical. We chose Revonia’s solution from Estonia because we were looking for durability and low maintenance costs. For us, it is important to focus on hosting guests rather than constantly maintaining buildings,” Väisänen said. “The center opened today proves that an underground concrete house can be cozy, bright, and luxurious. It is an investment that will last for decades, be passed on to my grandchildren, and host and delight guests from all over the world. In addition, underground houses give me peace of mind—I don’t have to worry during stormy nights or heavy snowfall that the buildings might be damaged.”
Background information: According to the contract signed in August last year, the total cost of the project was approximately 6 million euros. The houses have a floor area of 30 m², include all modern comforts, and can be installed in a single day. Revonia is an Estonian company with more than 10 years of experience, known for its vaulted cellars and cave saunas. In recent years, the company’s focus has increasingly shifted toward turnkey residential buildings and accommodation facilities.
