Five Finnish presidents have lived there: Mauno Koivisto, Martti Ahtisaari, Tarja Halonen, Sauli Niinistö and Alexander Stubb.

When president Urho Kekkonen resigned in 1982 due to a serious illness, he stayed in the then official residence Tamminiemi until his death in 1986.

The large main house comprises most of the total floor space of approximately 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft).

The main house contains the president's private living quarters and personal office suites, as well as the reception rooms.

Competitions for artists were held to choose some of the individual works of art for particular settings or parts of the house.