Vettä Spa – sauna experiences in the Finnish way

Spa center Vettä Spa in Canada offers a relaxing counterbalance to hectic everyday life. Siparila's natural wood products for the facade and interior surfaces reflect an authentic Finnish atmosphere and quality.

In February 2022, a small piece of Finland was built in Ontario, Canada: the Vettä Spa center, founded by Canadian-Finnish Eric Härkönen. Härkönen wanted the spa to embody Finnish sauna culture as authentically as possible – calming down, enjoying the atmosphere, and recharging.

"Vettä Spa celebrates the Finnish way of life and culture. Finland is where time is cherished and spent wisely among friends and family. Vettä Spa offers a break from today's fast-paced and busy lifestyles: the opportunity to disconnect from technology, embrace nature, and reconnect with yourself and loved ones," describes Härkönen.

At Vettä Spa, guests can enjoy a traditional Finnish sauna experience, which includes a relaxing combination of hot and cold. The restaurant's Finnish-influenced seasonal menus complete the experience. The ingredients come from local producers, and the menu consists of, for example, Karelian pies and sausage. They clearly know what real Finnishness is.

The spa's name, Vettä, is also at the core of Finnishness.

"It was a natural choice for a name because water is an essential spa element. For Canadians, a name containing the letter ä also has exoticism and mysticism, which arouses interest," explains Härkönen.

Siparila's products bring Finnish quality to Vettä Spa

The essential requirements for the materials used in Vettä Spa were a beautiful appearance suitable for the desired style and durability. Härkönen got to know Siparila's products through the architect, Tero and Ian Malcolm from ISM Architects out of Barrie, Ontario, who designed the site.

"Nothing reflects our brand identity better than using Finnish products. However, we did not choose Siparila products just because they are Finnish but because they are the best on the market. After all, a typical Finn likes to invest his money in quality that lasts."

Siparila’s Topcoat exterior cladding panels in black and brown were selected as the surface material for the main building’s exterior walls. Siparila also supplied other products needed for the facade, such as exterior corner moldings.

For the interior surfaces, several Siparila interior panels were used: Valo panels in the main building and Struktuuri panels in various colors in the saunas and changing rooms. In one of the changing rooms, a modern Vire panel serves as an eye-catching feature.

Excellent and responsible service

Even though Siparila's products came from another continent, the distance was no problem. After all, Finns are also known for planning things well before implementing them.

"Careful planning is the best starting point. We planned everything in cooperation with Siparila, and they carried out the deliveries exactly according to the schedules", says Härkönen.

Härkönen is very satisfied with the service he received from Siparila and the high-quality products.

"The salesmen were really helpful and answered our questions immediately. The amount of lumber was dimensioned exactly right, and there was no unnecessary waste. Siparila also takes responsibility for the functionality of the products, even if they have been in use for a long time. For example, when our boards started peeling after a year of use and we contacted Siparila, they reacted quickly and instructed us to treat them with sauna wax. After that, the surface was like new again."

"The spa setting looks fantastic – we have received rave customer reviews as well. Above all, the quality of Finnish wood is unbelievably good, and it is difficult to find similar wood quality elsewhere. In Finland, trees grow straight and become strong because growth is slow. Therefore, products made of this wood are durable. Even though Canada's climate is variable and very wearing, the lumber from Siparila still looks the same as immediately after installation.