Halosenniemi

Halosenniemi, the home and studio of artist Pekka Halonen, stands as a testament to Finnish craftsmanship, and a deep respect for nature. Built on a rocky cape by Lake Tuusula in the early 20th century, it became both a source of inspiration for the artist and a self-sufficient home. Later Halosenniemi opened as a museum that cherishes the unique heritage of artist.

Finding a place for a home

In Tuusula Halonen found on one of his habitual skiing trips by Lake Tuusula a beautiful cape which was suitable to be his home place. The site was bought from a local farmer in spring 1899. The big trees were torn down before Halonen got the site, and this was a great disappointment for Halonen. In later years he was very protective of the nature and trees of Halosenniemi.

Construction of Halosenniemi

Pekka Halonen designed his house together with his brother Antti, an able builder. The construction work started in 1900. The first thing they had to do was to clear the road to the rocky cape. Then following the Finnish tradition, they build the sauna first. Materials for the foundation stones were quarried from the cape’s own sturdy grey granite. The pinewood logs were harder to acquire due to their required size. Suitable logs were finally found from Central Finland. Piilu-hewing the logs made them more endurable and gave them the distinct wave-like surface. While designing his home, Halonen paid special attention to the heating system of the house. Every room had originally at least one fireplace, most of which have beautiful copper oven doors made by Halonen’s cousin, Arttu Halonen. The family moved in by the end of the year 1902.

A Home for the Family and Art

Halosenniemi was permanent home of the family for over three decades. The house has two floors as well as spacious attic and a basement. Big studio room is the heart of the house and served dual purpose as Halonen’s workspace as well as the gathering place for the family. The studio, guest room, kitchen, dining room and the main entrance hall are located on the ground floor. The upper floor consists of the bedrooms, children’s room, and a room for servants or a tutor. The furniture was practical, some homemade or acquired from auctions for example.

The Garden that Fed and Inspired

Halonen family had a sizable garden as they tried to be as self-sufficient as possible. It was a trend at the time within the artist community but in Halosenniemi the role of the garden as a source of food cannot be understated. While Maija had the most responsibility of the garden, everyone had to pull their weight too, Pekka and the children included. Besides vegetables and root crops such as cabbages and potatoes, they also planted berry bushes and fruit trees in the garden. More decorative flowers were planted to lure in the bees which Maija kept for the honey.

The garden worked also as a source of inspiration for Pekka Halonen’s art. Especially during his colour period, ordinary cabbages, bright tomatoes and his family members immersed in garden work were the stars of many of his paintings.

Becoming a Home Museum

Pekka Halonen passed away at Halosenniemi in 1933 at the age of 68. Maija died in 1944, and only a few years later in 1949 Halosenniemi was sold to Tuusula municipality with the condition it would become a museum. Halosenniemi became a protected nature reserve in 1966.

Halosenniemi museum is open to the public the whole year. Besides being a home museum of Pekka Halonen’s family, Halosenniemi holds art exhibitions. Pekka Halonen’s own art is always on display to some degree, but the exhibitions often contain also art from his contemporaries or other artists.

Halosenniemi – The Artist Home of Pekka Halonen

The surroundings of artist Pekka Halonen’s studio home, Halosenniemi, located on the shore of Lake Tuusula, in four different seasons.