SAGA Houses – blending architecture, nature and investment insight

By Signe Hansen | Photos: SAGA Houses

Amid growing interest in slow travel and nature-immersive retreats, SAGA Houses’ design-centred approach has emerged as a perfect fit for the Scandinavian landscape. Its sculptural mirror cabins invite guests into close contact with the landscape and northern light, while a considered partnership model supports landowners and entrepreneurs in developing small-scale stays. The emphasis is on sensitivity and simplicity: architecture that opens to nature, and business models that reduce barriers to getting started, even in remote sites.

Founded three years ago by investment-banking specialist Oleg Kryukovskiy and his partner, a modular-construction expert, Estonian-based SAGA Houses marries contemporary architecture with robust commercial thinking. Kryukovskiy’s background in regulated finance – he co-founded Singapore-based platform Kilde.sg – brings access to capital and scale, while his partner contributes more than 25 years’ experience in modular building.

“What began as a dream to create something beautiful and comfortable for nature settings soon became a mission,” explains Kryukovskiy. “We keep building new models, improving and re-thinking, because we want to be outstanding.”

In just three years, the company has delivered projects across Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Estonia, and recently opened a showroom in the Netherlands. The appeal, according to head of sales and partnerships Vladimir Belov, lies in the emotional immediate connection guests feel. “The house basically doesn’t separate you from nature, but blends you with it,” he says. “You’re not just sitting in a cabin, staring out of the window; you’re present in the moment, becoming the place.”

SAGA Houses – blending architecture, nature and investment insight

Sense House – a sculptural hideaway

SAGA’s portfolio counts more than eight refined models, each conceived to sit lightly in the landscape. The newest, the Sense House, was developed for northern Scandinavia and aurora viewing. With 180-degree glass walls and a mezzanine option, it is tailored to couples or families seeking front-row immersion in nature. “It’s designed for you to be able to just sit, be and sense everything around you,” explains Belov. “At one and the same time, you feel at home and safe – and part of the environment around you.”

SAGA Houses – blending architecture, nature and investment insight

The Sense House is complemented by the studio-format Signature House with optional sauna and Jacuzzi, and the compact Luxury Retreat – the top seller, valued for its ease of transport and installation. “Each model has its own variations – for example, it can feature an extra sleeping area, an indoor sauna, or a larger layout. In short, we have ready-made solutions to suit every taste,” notes Kryukovskiy. “But we are always focused on comfort, warmth and harmony with the environment.”

No matter the model, the emphasis is on calm, sensory presence. “We wanted to reinvent the mirror-house idea,” says Belov. “Not a cold cube, but a warm place to be with yourself and people you love.”

SAGA Houses – blending architecture, nature and investment insight

Partnership models designed for ease

Alongside architectural ambition lies a clear business logic. “Our core clients use these houses for business,” says Kryukovskiy. “These are not passive assets – they earn money.”

SAGA Houses offers two principal partnership routes. First, a leasing scheme for landowners who can fund infrastructure and permissions. “We provide an option to pay within five years,” he explains. “You avoid bank loans, and one or two good rental days a month can cover the leasing fee.” In popular Northern Lights areas, even small cabins can earn 1,000 euros in a night or two, he notes, meaning that only a few bookings a month may cover a lease.

The second route is a full partnership. “If an owner has land but no funding or time, we can co-invest or fully finance, plan the concept, manage permissions, install engineering and build,” he says. “All in one.”

Projects already underway include a ten-unit Sense House glamping destination in Swedish Lapland under a leasing model, and a fully financed resort in Finland. SAGA aims to build 500 houses in five years, primarily across Scandinavia. “We see ourselves as an accelerator for nature-hospitality startups,” adds Kryukovskiy. “If someone has a strong vision but limited funds, we can support with expertise and financing.”

SAGA Houses – blending architecture, nature and investment insight

From fjords to forests

The surge in demand for boutique nature stays across the Nordic region has created fertile ground for innovation. SAGA Houses is expanding its reach from fjords to forests and mountain plateaus, also offering off-grid options by adding internal tanks, fireplace heating, batteries, and solar support to the existing models. “It means that we are not limited by existing engineering systems,” says Kryukovskiy. “The most important thing is location. Show us an incredible place, and we can create and launch within months.”

Client profiles range from landowners seeking to diversify to adventure operators adding accommodation to husky safaris, kayaking bases or hiking lodges. “People offering experiences increasingly want hospitality too,” says Belov. “We can build something beautiful and long-lasting together.”

For those holding unutilised land or dreaming of a design-led cabin business, SAGA’s message is clear – they want their houses in the most beautiful places; if you bring the site and the vision, the company can co-create the rest.

SAGA Houses – blending architecture, nature and investment insight