History

The Russian Government announced the development of low-rise buildings as one of the priority directions for the national project called ‘Affordable and Comfortable Property For Russian Citizens’. The first Rovaniemi dealers opened their offices in Perm and Samara.

Rovaniemi established its Truly Lapland Log Houses brand, under which authentic wooden houses from Lapland were supplied.

The total turnover of companies producing log houses exceeds 240 million Euros. The share for exported houses is 50 percent. The most significant markets for Finnish producers of log houses are the markets of Germany, the United States, Japan and Russia.

The ‘Wooden House Construction Support Programme 2004-2010’, a joint project between the Finnish state and private businesses in the forest production industry, is founded. Apart from the construction of low-rise buildings, the programme is aimed at encouraging the usage of timber in the construction of other buildings such as low rise buildings, office buildings, sports venues, and farm buildings. The use of timber is also encouraged in restoration projects, interior decorations, and the design of yards and other areas close to buildings.

Three and four-floor wooden log houses are built in Finnish cities such as Lahti, Porvoo, Tuusula and Oulu. Since 2000, a number of public buildings, of a very high architectural standard, have been constructed. These include the Viiki and Laajasalo churches in Helsinki, a sports centre, the Metla House Forest Research Insitute,  the Shingle Church of Kyarsyamyaki, and St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel in Turku.

Ikihirsi Oy and Jouko Vyalikangas Cabins merged. New machinery and equipment was bought, a new factory premises were built, and investments in the education of personnel were made.

Ikihirsi Oy  was founded, the main partner of the Rovaniemi trade mark. The factory business was expanded in 1996, due to the expansion of sub-contracting and the establishment of an export operation.

The Finnish Centre for the Development of Technology (TEKEC) established the Wooden Construction 2000 research project.  Founded in 1992, the AO Puuinfo organization (now called Wood Focus OY) concentrated on enlarging and expanding its knowledge of the usage of wood as a building material. The mass media helped in the process through the popularization of timber as a construction material.