Reference: The Riekko Lodge – delivered on schedule, ready for the winter season
HAWO’s largest customer project of 2025, the 28-unit The Riekko Lodge resort, was completed on an ambitious schedule—finished in November just ahead of the winter season opening. Located in the Ylläs area, this major new resort offers accommodation in modern holiday villas designed to blend seamlessly into the Lapland landscape. The units feature large panoramic windows and are optimized for aurora tourism, providing guests with a unique connection to the surrounding nature. From the start of production to the opening of the resort, the total delivery timeline for the full accommodation capacity was approximately six months. The first guests were welcomed in late November–early December, enjoying the resort in stunning winter conditions.
28 modern holiday homes in the heart of Lapland – delivered in just four months
Following the collaboration announced in April 2025 regarding the construction of accommodation capacity for our client’s Riekko Lodge project, the process progressed smoothly from HAWO’s production to deliveries and final handover in Muonio, all according to a controlled schedule. Early summer was efficiently utilized for production and site groundwork, while the delivery and installation of the completed holiday homes began in late summer.
By the end of an intensive autumn, the final delivery of four holiday homes was completed in Muonio before mid-November. Over the course of just four months, a total of 28 fully completed holiday homes, each ranging from 64 to 76 m², were delivered and installed at the site. At the same time as the installations, the client was also constructing the resort’s main building, which serves as a restaurant, on the same site.
Grand opening and the start of the season
The final units of the development arrived in Muonio just one week before the grand opening—right on schedule. And as if on cue, winter arrived as well.
Within just a few days, tens of centimeters of snow fell in the Ylläs area, and the project was ultimately handed over to the client in full winter conditions.
After the final installation week and completion of the holiday home handover inspections, a private opening event was held at Riekko Lodge for the new restaurant, Bistro Riekko, and the wider resort area. The event brought together partners and close stakeholders to celebrate the completion of the project. Guests were accommodated in freshly furnished and fully operational villas, delivered directly for use. During the opening weekend, participants explored the Riekko Lodge area and the surrounding nature of Äkäslompolo and Ylläs through local activity services, even in crisp sub-zero winter conditions. At the end of each event day, retreating into the brand-new villas provided a fitting conclusion to the opening experience for everyone involved.
The booking system for the accommodation units has been open since autumn. Following the opening weekend experiences and celebrations, Riekko Lodge was fully ready to welcome its first domestic and international guests as planned from the beginning of December.
During the Christmas and New Year holiday season, the resort quickly reached near-full occupancy, hosting guests from both Finland and abroad right from the outset.
Customer experience on project execution and the first season
Riekko Lodge CEO Jani Ruponen reflects on the opening of the resort: “It feels good, the atmosphere at the site is great.”
Regarding the project’s ambitious schedule, Ruponen notes: “During the autumn the timeline felt challenging at times, but the project was successfully delivered on schedule. Completing the overall package required strong commitment from both parties. Communication between Riekko and HAWO has been fast and open throughout.”
One of the key logistical challenges during construction was the delivery and handling of furniture for the villas. Ruponen explains: “A significant part of the project was actually the interior furnishing of the villas, because the total amount of furniture for 28 units was enormous. And on top of that, the restaurant construction.”
Overall, Ruponen describes the execution of the different project phases as follows: “Normally a site of this scale would be completed in phases, but HAWO’s concept enabled simultaneous execution—while staying on an ambitious schedule and budget.”
The arrival of heavy snowfall and freezing conditions within a short period created additional site challenges during the final deliveries. However, as the site had progressed steadily throughout the autumn, only the final finishing work remained, and the last units were completed and made operational even in Arctic conditions. After the completion of agreed post-opening corrections, the resort has transitioned into full operational use and the enjoyment of everyday operations at Riekko Lodge. Active outdoor living in the area and work within the resort’s own safari services have also produced a steady stream of striking visual content on @riekkolodge throughout the winter. Northern lights sightings, in particular, have been more the rule than the exception during the season.
Following the Christmas season, Ruponen has highlighted several memorable encounters with guests who have praised the surrounding nature, architectural design, and warm interior atmosphere of the villas. Extreme cold spells, reaching as low as -40°C, have already tested the site during its first season—but the buildings have remained warm and fully operational, and guests have continued to arrive in strong numbers. The winter season peaks, including the ski holiday weeks and Easter period, have filled the resort at excellent occupancy levels already in its first year.
Learn more about the destination The Riekko Lodge.
Follow the Riekko’s story and active social media at @theriekkolodge
Also get to know HAWO’s resort construction concept and house collection!