Life at Syväranta
The History of Syväranta A timeline
The Syväranta villa is built
The Helsinki-based civil servant Birger Lundahl purchases the Syväranta estate and has the first summer villa built on the site.
A Brief Period of Ownership
The distinguished Viktor von Haartman buys the estate but relinquishes it soon afterwards.
Life at the Summer Villa
The Björklund family, based in St Petersburg, acquires Syväranta as a summer residence. The estate includes several villas, which are also rented out.
The Syväranta Tower Villa
The Björklund family renovates the estate and, in the 1890s, commissions the construction of a large Neo-Renaissance tower villa at Syväranta.
Entertainment and High Society Life
The Moscow-based millionaire Konstantin Uškov purchases Syväranta for his wife, Theresa. The estate is renovated to suit high society life.
A Home for a family
Syväranta becomes the permanent home of the growing Hansen family. During their time, buildings and movable property from the estate are sold.
Rest and Cultural Figures
Syväranta is renovated into a resthome for journalists, gaining popularity among influential figures in Finnish cultural life.
The Lotta Svärd Organisation Arrives
The Lotta Svärd Organisation purchases Syväranta as a Lotta institute, which also serves as a resthome between training courses.
Intelligence Activities at Syväranta
During the Winter War and until January 1941, Syväranta serves as a site for signals intelligence operations conducted by the Finnish Defence Forces.
Lotta Courses and Rest
Lotta training activities continue at Syväranta. The Swedish Cottage (Ruotsin Maja) is built on the shore of Lake Tuusula as a convalescent home for the Lottas.
Syväranta Is Transferred to the Foundation
Facing dissolution, the Lotta Svärd Organisation donates the Syväranta estate to the newly established Finnish Women’s Aid Foundation.
Työmaahuolto Gets to Work
The operations of Work Site Maintenance Ltd. (Työmaahuolto), founded by the Lottas and active at reconstruction sites across Finland, are directed from Syväranta.
Fire at Syväranta
The main building of Syväranta is destroyed in a fire. Activities continue at the Swedish Cottage and the lakeside sauna.
Recreation at the Swedish Cottage
The Finnish Women’s Aid Foundation continues convalescent home activities at the Swedish Cottage. Work Site Maintenance Ltd. establishes permanent premises in Helsinki at Mannerheimintie 93.
Grand Plans for a Hotel
The Finnish Women’s Aid Foundation plans to build a holiday hotel at Syväranta, but the project is never realised.
A Museum Founded by the Lottas
A museum is opened in the new main building at Syväranta, designed by Irmeli and Markus Visanti. In additon to being a museum, it serves as a meeting place for former Lottas and Little Lottas.
The Lotta Museum Celebrates an Anniversary
Celebrate our 30th anniversary with us! Explore the different phases of Syväranta by playing games. Visit us in person and tour the grounds!
A Museum Founded by the Lottas
Tutustu museoon, joka perustettiin lottien tahdon ja työn seurauksena!
The early exhibitions were carefully assembled to present the many roles of the Lottas. Objects, photographs, and personal belongings were collected from local associations and private donors, and the displays brought different areas of Lotta work to life — from communications and medical care to everyday duties.
From the beginning, the museum was more than an exhibition space. It became a place of remembrance, encounter, and shared heritage, preserving the experiences of the Lottas while making their history accessible to new generations of visitors.
Syväranta as a Lotta Institute
For the Lottas, Syväranta was far more than a villa and its surrounding grounds. It was a vibrant communal centre where training and learning took place alongside rest and recreation. The estate provided a setting in which knowledge, skills, and shared purpose were strengthened together.
At the same time, Syväranta functioned as a rest home. Between courses, the building was adapted for guests, offering accommodation, meals, and opportunities for recovery in the peaceful lakeside setting. Rooms could be rented, and the estate welcomed visitors from different walks of life, including cultural figures and holiday guests.
Drawing on archival sources, contemporary writings, and the Lottas’ own recollections, the story of Syväranta reveals what everyday life, education, and leisure truly looked like in this unique community by Lake Tuusula.
From Sorrow to Celebration
The Lotta Museum, now celebrating its anniversary, stands on the site of a villa once destroyed by fire. The dramatic blaze left a lasting mark on Syväranta.
The events of that fateful day continue to live on in memories and stories passed down through generations. One story revolves around a layered cream cake that was rescued from the blazing fire.
This story is linked to a light-hearted and fast-paced mini game. Your task is to catch a moving cake before time runs out. Created with the help of artificial intelligence, the game challenges your reaction speed. How quickly can you respond? Play and test your skills!
Discover Syväranta Through an Interactive Game
Step into the rich history of Syväranta and embark on an adventure across the entire estate. The game area covers the whole courtyard and its surroundings, inviting you to discover the site from new perspectives.
Your mission is to make your way through ten checkpoints and solve the challenges you encounter along the way. The game takes you from the splendour of the villa to the rhythms of everyday life, testing your knowledge and skills across a variety of themes.
The experience is well suited for families with children, while also offering engaging entertainment for other visitors. You can play on site at Syväranta or from the comfort of your own home.