Särestö

In Kaukonen, Kittilä, Lapland, Finland there is a place we call Särestö. Officially it is Särestöniemi Museum. It actually won The Museum of The Year contest in Finland in May 2026!

It is the museum of a famous painter Reidar Särestöniemi (1925-1981). In December I went to see a play of his mom Vesisaaren Alma with my sister. Now I went to see the museum with my sister. We have been there together before. A long time ago. The museum was opened in 1985. We have visited it by then. That makes 40 years ago!

There is his family home. It is a traditional log house by the river Ounasjoki. It is mostly like it has been when he lived there. Of course some parts has been put on display because it is a museum now. 

Also Reidar's family had a traditional cow house. Like all the traditional buildings, also animal sheds were made of logs. They had for about 8 cows and few sheep which means it was a wealthy house.

They had also a horse stable for their 2-3 horses. You can spot also a dog house in the picture. The leftmost building is an outhouse (toilet). Image yourself going there in the winter when there's snow and frost.

The gallery was built up in 1972. He was so famous and visitors came to see his work. He needed the privacy so he built up a gallery next to his ateljé.

In the gallery is also his sauna department where some important and close guests were invited. He had 2,5 m deep pool in the sauna department. Surprisingly the sauna department and pool locate on the 2nd floor of the gallery. Obviously, because it was built on a stony ground and digging a pool into the soil would have been too complicated in arctic environment.

Previously he had his ateljé next to the gallery. Unfortunately it was destroyed in a fire by the new year 1977/1978. The new ateljé, which was also his private house, was ready for him to move in already in October 1978. 

His ateljé is a dream place for every artist or artesan. Unfortunately he passed away 2½ years later and was not able to enjoy it for a longer time. 

The museum area is like indoor and outdoor museum, all together. I warmly recommend you to visit it and investigate it all also outside, no matter the weather. If it is a summer, dress up, because there will be mosquito.

You can even spot the place of Reidar's birth. They used to have a smaller house there. They sold it later. After that Reidar carried a big stone there to spot the exact place of  his birth.

He died in his ateljé but is buried in Kittilä graveyard in the center of Kittilä. By the gate there's a map that points out his grave in the top left corned.

You can find Reidar's grave easily. You just walk straight forward from the gate until the last turn to the left. And then you walk forward again until you see this sign. 

Remember to be respectful. And silent.