A Former School

Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu is a former school now turned into a Gamified Cohousing. Our principles are derived from the work of Architectural Democracy.

Over 100 years old

Our work focuses on the design of the community first and the adaptation of the physical design to enhance it. This is to be reached best by interacting with the local community.

Forests and Lakes

This house is sorrounded by forest and lakes, 4 km away from the shops and schools. There is a bus stop just in front. A quiet inspiring place.

Available Rooms & Apartments for Rental

Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu

Music Hall & Gym

Apartment A

Apartment D

FAQs

Where is Hyrsylän Koulu located?

Hyrsylän Koulu is situated at Hyrsyläntie 169, 09430 Saukkola, Finland. The property is surrounded by forests and lakes, offering a tranquil environment approximately 4 km from local shops and schools. A bus stop is conveniently located directly in front of the property.

We take your safety very seriously. To ensure a secure environment, CCTV cameras are installed at key entry points around the property. Plus, we have people in the house practically 24 hours a day. 

Surveillance cameras are installed in common areas such as entrances and hallways. These cameras do not record private spaces and are used solely for security purposes.

All tenants and users of the property acknowledge the presence of such cameras and consents to their use under applicable data protection laws. Recorded footage is stored securely, accessible only to authorized persons, and retained for a limited period. Tampering with or removing camera equipment or storage media (e.g., SD cards) is strictly prohibited. In such cases, the landlord reserves the right to retain the full security deposit to cover potential damages, data loss, or legal risks.

Yes, we recommedn saukolan Ruokasaali

It’s your home, so feel free to enjoy a drink whenever you wish, so long as you are respectful of your housemates. If you want to party, make sure this is agreed by all others and within the house rules. 

Please note, the entire property is non-smoking, and we do not allow self-hosted parties. Quiet hours are observed after 10 PM.

Note that smoking indoors is a seriousbreach of contract with serious consequences, resulting in potential immediate cancellation of the contract and withholding the deposit in full.

If you wish to volunteer with us, please contact su, here are the rules:


🗓️ Daily Volunteer Schedule (Monday–Friday):

10:00 – 12:00: Morning Renovation Session

12:00 – 13:00: Lunch Break (shared or self-made)

13:00 – 15:00: Afternoon session

 

📅 Working hours: 4 hours/day

🚪 Days off: Weekends

🧰 Tasks You’ll Help With:

Carpentry & Woodwork: Paneling, bench-making, structural repairs

Painting & Coating: Protecting and preserving wood for longevity

Landscaping around the Sauna: Creating a cozy outdoor space, possibly adding a firepit or cold plunge!

Painting walls

Help with basic cleaning

 

Rules:

1. Accommodation & Food

Basic accommodation is provided free of charge in the large dormitory. We also have prite bedrooms.

We offer basic food staples (e.g., rice, pasta, oats, some vegetables).

Volunteers must organize and cook their own meals or collaborate with others.

Cleaning up after yourself is mandatory in shared spaces.

 

2. Work & Safety

Always follow safety guidelines for tools and materials.

Report any broken equipment or safety concerns immediately.

Respect the heritage site—no damage, no waste, and reuse whenever possible.

If unsure about a task, ask a team leader for guidance.

 

3. Community Living

Be respectful to all residents, volunteers, and guests.

Keep noise levels reasonable, especially at night.

Drugs and excessive alcohol consumption are not allowed.

Everyone participates in basic cleaning and maintenance.

 

4. Communication & Collaboration

Problems? Speak up! We encourage open and honest communication.

Ideas? Share them! Creativity and input are always welcome.

Take initiative, be kind, and help create a positive, fun environment.

 

Recreational Activities

Firewood Sauna

A large sauna of 40m2 at the sports field, 150 EUR / Day.

Outdoor Park & Sports Area

For a picnic, group gathering, or sports training, 10k m2 of area. With access to toilets, showers and grill. Volleyball court, football and basketball at 500 EUR / Day.

More Photos

Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu
Gamified Cohousing Hyrsylän Koulu

Residency at Hyrsylän Koulu

Inviting artists regularly is a good catalyst for this goal. The only premise requested of the invited artist, is that the work done involves the local community. This can be in the form of visual arts, in producing a piece of work that can be set in the school’s mini museum or outdoors. It can be in the form of music or video in producing a work that captures the sounds and images of the area or creates potential stories around local tales. It can be too touching architectural or carpentry works in improving the communication of the workers and residents of Hyrsylän Koulu with the local community. Or also with environmental artists in using local food production as means of empowerment.

The applicants must provide a work plan and a resume of their work and be interviewed.

Please contact us or our partners, the Art Gallery Cooperative in Helsinki, Myymälä2

Press

What people say

Anna
AnnaColombia
La pasé muy bien, en un lugar muy tranquilo, con mucha naturaleza cerca, las personas son maravillosas y las instalaciones son muy bonitas y cómodas.

2025
Anna
AnnaAustria
My stay was really lovely. I mostly did gardening, which I truly enjoyed, though I didn’t work on the sauna. Everyone there was incredibly kind and made me feel very welcome. The area is beautiful, with many lakes. There’s a supermarket in Saukkola—about a 30-minute bike ride (you can borrow a bike!), or you can often join a neighbour driving there. As agreed upon, you’re responsible for your own groceries and cooking. :) I had a room of my own and the bed was really comfortable! Overall I had a great stay and I hope there will be many other volunteers in the future, thanks for everything!

2025
Wai Hong & Ka Iu
Wai Hong & Ka IuMacau
We like this place very much. There is a lot of natural scenery around and very quiet. The people we met here were very friendly also, making us to learn more about Finnish culture. I would recommend this place without a doubt, you are sure to have a great experience.

2023
Bladimir Alexander
Bladimir AlexanderUruguay
El lugar me gustó mucho, había mucha naturaleza alrededor, eso es agradable. Recomendaría este lugar sin duda, seguro viviréis una bonita experiencia.
Animaos...

2023
Davide
DavideItaly
I've spent two weeks here and I really enjoyed many aspects:. I really liked the shared room, the kitchen and the outdoor spaces!

2023
Mikko & Anna
Mikko & Anna
We absolutely love this cohousing project . My partner and I could not stop reading about it and so we decided to join!

2021
Adrian
Adrian
A very positive experience, ideal for gaining independence. My first few days helped me improve my English with the friendly neighbors and become more self-sufficient. The tasks are simple, although the instructions were a bit unclear at first when I was alone. The host, Pedro, isn't present (I only saw him once), but he checked in every day via WhatsApp to ask what we had done. The arrival of a volunteer couple after my first week there created an international atmosphere. I recommend it if you're looking for personal growth and autonomy rather than a group-focused experience.

2025
Annina
Annina
Such a great forest, super relaxing! We had a meditation workshop here and it was just perfect.

2020

The Gamified Cohousing App

Hyrsylän Koulu is managed by the Gamified Cohousing App.
Check the GC homepage for more info here

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