Guest House Tornedalen

Sustainability Practices

Guest House Tornedalen is a small-scale holiday accommodation close to the Arctic Centre in Tornedalen, Swedish Lapland. My aim is to protect and care the cultural heritage of my childhood area. My mission is to spread knowledge about our bilingual culture. We are a minority people, we are Swedish but our language and traditions are Finnish. I renovate and re-use old buildings to create beautiful, sustainable and comfortable accommodation. My mission is to share my part of the world with those who like me wants to preserve the countryside, for those who love the nature and wants to protect it from pollution and economic greed. My professional background as a gallery director characterizes all the houses. I know from experience that art, design and craftsmanship make a difference. My goal is to let the old meet the new. My houses are no imitations they are renovated with respect for the years that has passed and also with respect for the contemporary and for the years to come. Guest House Tornedalen is proud of the interior design mixed with local craftsmanship and new furniture’s by young designers and the textiles and fabrics are of best organic quality. My philosophy is that people value quality in all means and I want my guests to live in harmony with the nature and the arts. Once the guests are here they do not need to go elsewhere, they are surrounded by a magnificent nature and friendly people.

Guest House Tornedalen is in all aspects aware of the vulnerability in using the landscape and the nature therefore I have certified my forest to benefit the environment. I have restored the houses in a traditional way by using locally grown wood. A local carpenter has made doors, stairs, windows and benches and tables specially designed for Guest House Tornedalen and made by locally grown pine.
It’s natural for us to use local suppliers whenever it's possible. We live in an area with few people and a small number of tourists. Cooperation is necessary and we encourage local people to get involved in tourism by developing and making business of there interests and hobbies like fishing, hunting, growing vegetables, picking berries, boiling jam, making bread, weaving, knitting and so on. We cooperate with local entrepreneurs for activities and guiding. Neighbours to Guest House Tornedalen welcome guests and greets them to join in events and activities and loves to serve and introduce guests to local dishes and specialities. Our common experience is that tourists vitalize the village. I inform my guests on local events and tell them about our traditions and customs and I do my very best to inspire the locals to invite tourists to join them in the daily life in the village of Vitsaniemi.