Katajamäki

Rental use or for members only or for customers only

Katajamäki is a small eco- and roots-culture community of about ten people. The place is primarily owned by Katajamäki ry, an association governed by its residents. The association has over 40 members and nearly 200 supporting members. Doctor Edward Wilhelm Lybeck founded the Katajamäki estate as a sanatorium for mental health patients in the early 20th century. Sauna was one of Lybeck's central treatment methods. After the sauna, people would swim and take clay and sand baths. A slide had even been built at the sauna beach, down which one could slide into Lake Elänne. Today's community honors Lybeck's legacy by promoting people's mental balance, creativity, healthy lifestyles, community spirit, and connection to the land. Tapani Hietalahti was an influential and multi-talented artist, mason, and master builder. He was one of the two discoverers of the Katajamäki site in the 1990s and one of the most important founding members of the community. Hietalahti's handiwork can be seen at Katajamäki, among other things, in the form of masonry fireplaces. The estate's current residents are likewise avid sauna-goers. However, the earth sauna built on the shore had to be given up. The sauna, which resembled an earth mound, was according to regulations too close to the shore. The community strives to be open and to offer interested people the opportunity to participate, but visitors are asked to get in touch in advance so the situation can be assessed. Over two decades, the community has organized 1-2 courses, events, or camps each month on sustainable living skills and communal culture.