On a Finnish archipelago, just a ten-minute boat ride from the center of Helsinki, lies the off-grid eco-cabin of Majamaja. Designed by architect Pekka Littow as a sustainable holiday home for city dwellers, this 23m² homestead invites visitors to disconnect from the rigamarole of modern living.

“I was inspired by the slow approach of photographer Paul Strand,” says director Julien Pujol of the twentieth-century American photographer known for his honest portrayal of people and landscapes. “There’s a special atmosphere with a certain slowness. It’s surrounded by myth; something that lies deep in the woods, in the reflections of the water, in the sounds of the trees and traditions passed down from ancient sources.”

“Maja” means shelter in Finnish and these archipelagos have offered livelihoods, adventure, and places of joy and rest for local communities for years. This film distills the magic of the coastal retreat into tender moments of audio-visual bliss that teases audiences into slowing their thoughts and movements. 

“I wanted to express the transformative power of such a place, to slow down time and to connect,” says Pujol, who visited the isolated outcrop in November last year. “To show how the different elements can shape our way of looking at the world and create better harmony with nature. By reaching out to our surroundings we can inspire ourselves to create a more reasonable environment. Majamaja is deeply human and the archipelago is a place of connectedness. Its traditions inspire warmth and open a door to future dreams and possibilities.”