Trevarefabrikken: Nordic Timber Elegance
Nestled on the main island of Henningsvær in Norway's Lofoten archipelago, Trevarefabrikken presents a remarkable sauna experience. Constructed from cross-laminated
timber (CLT), it stands as a pioneer in sustainable bathhouse design. Its simple exterior, reminiscent of traditional Scandinavian homes, is distinguished by a glass facade, allowing for stunning views. Elevated on stilts to accommodate tidal changes, its design minimizes environmental impact. Inside, the consistent use of CLT creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staggered benches facing the expansive glass front offer an unobstructed vista of the surrounding fjord, while the subtly placed stove ensures the focus remains on the natural beauty outside. The untreated CLT not only enhances the sauna's aesthetic appeal but also contributes to a healthy and pleasant environment, filled with the natural scent of wood.
From P Resort: Alpine Serenity
In the picturesque Japanese Alps, the From P resort in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, offers a unique sauna experience designed to harmonize with its seasonal landscape. Opened in 2022, this facility has brought renewed attention to the spa experience in a region primarily known for winter sports. The design ingeniously combines fixed structures with adaptable elements, including a barrel sauna, dome tents equipped with stoves, and outdoor areas for cooling and relaxation. Guests can seamlessly transition between warming up in the sauna, cooling off in a two-meter-deep water barrel, and engaging with an open fire zone. This holistic approach allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the cycle of heat and cool, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the dramatic Alpine ridgeline.
Steam Mystic: A Floating Marvel
Located off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia, Steam Mystic is an extraordinary floating sauna, ingeniously crafted from the salvaged hull of a 29-foot sailboat. This unique project, designed and built by Nick Van Buren, masterfully blends maritime engineering with adaptable architecture. The original vessel's form dictated the sauna's structure, with its cockpit repurposed for seating. A new exterior shell, fashioned from cedar planks and marine-grade plywood, encases the space. The exterior is further enhanced with weathered driftwood and secured with durable fasteners. The name itself, a nod to the boat's original title 'Sea Mystic,' signifies both continuity and transformation. Inside, a meticulously restored second-hand wood stove heats the chamber, lined with driftwood planks that comfortably seat up to six individuals. The compact design, low ceiling, and cedar surfaces amplify the heat, while small openings provide captivating glimpses of the waterline and the encompassing seascape.
Sauna Bivak: Minimalist Design
Budapest-based BIVAK Studio has created Sauna Bivak, a testament to stripping the sauna experience down to its fundamental elements. This structure, built entirely from cross-laminated timber (CLT), embodies both practicality and exquisite detail. The uniform use of CLT for the walls, benches, and ceiling creates a cohesive interior aesthetic, enhancing the sauna's heat retention capabilities while fostering a calm, tactile atmosphere. Externally, Sauna Bivak presents as a versatile object, akin to a pavilion, cabinet, or camper. Its base is engineered to meet Hungarian trailer dimensions, supported by adjustable legs for effortless setup on various terrains, from uneven mountain slopes to urban landscapes. The sauna’s design ensures it rests lightly on the ground, negating the need for extensive foundations.
SAZAE: A Spiral Sanctuary
Rising from the shores of Naoshima Island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, SAZAE is a captivating spiral-shaped wooden structure designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, with interiors curated by the Japanese sauna collective TTNE. Named after the conical sazae snail, this sauna is an intricate assembly of over 4,000 uniquely cut hinoki cypress pieces. Its exterior presents a soft, organic silhouette that, upon closer inspection, reveals the precision of expert carpentry. The plain finish of the exterior blends seamlessly with the natural shoreline, giving it an earthy aesthetic. The interior, however, glows with warmth, its wood grain releasing a rich scent and narrative. This design embodies a deep connection to nature and traditional craftsmanship, offering a tranquil space for rejuvenation.
Nimmo Bay Floating Sauna: Rainforest Retreat
Situated within the lush embrace of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest, the Nimmo Bay Floating Sauna offers a serene escape where nature-centric design meets ecological consciousness. Resting on the calm waters of a coastal inlet and framed by ancient spruce trees, this structure is a harmonious blend of warmth, natural materials, and profound wilderness immersion. Initially conceived as a collaborative sketch between Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort and Anian, a Canadian clothing label, the sauna was brought to life through local craftsmanship. The construction prominently features regionally sourced yellow cedar, chosen for its durability against moisture and its beautiful aging process in the Pacific maritime climate. The design features low-slung, rectilinear volumes with generous picture windows that beautifully frame the ever-changing interplay of fog, forest, and light, creating a truly immersive experience.
Solar Egg: Reflective Sculpture
The Solar Egg, a creation by Swedish artist duo Mats Bigert and Lars Bergström, offers a striking and unconventional approach to sauna design. Standing 16 feet tall and clad in mirror-polished stainless steel, this ovoid structure functions as both a piece of art and a functional space. Its 69 gilded panels reflect the surrounding environment – be it snow-covered fields, urban landscapes, or dense forests – creating a dynamic, kaleidoscopic effect that merges architecture with nature. The artists refer to this reflective exterior as 'phototropic,' intended to spark dialogue and encourage communal rituals. Access is granted through a discreet vertical seam, leading to an interior lined with raw, fragrant Swedish pine, providing a natural contrast to the exterior's brilliant sheen. The Solar Egg is designed to be an engaging presence, using its reflections to connect with and temporarily host its community.
Hotel Jungbrunn: Biomorphic Curves
Within the alpine resort of Hotel Jungbrunn in Tannheim, Austria, the 3D sauna redefines traditional design with its flowing, biomorphic geometry. Moving away from the conventional rectangular wooden sauna, its walls and ceiling sweep in continuous arcs, forming a sculptural enclosure where form and ambiance are intrinsically linked. Designed by German studio Geplan Design, the structure, despite its avant-garde appearance, was meticulously crafted using time-honored carpentry techniques. Each element was precisely cut to fit into a supportive frame, with elastic rubber joints allowing for natural wood expansion and contraction, ensuring both durability and the fluid aesthetic. A stove anchored by natural stone sourced from the Tyrolean landscape subtly connects the interior experience to the breathtaking scenery outside.
Soria Moria: Crystalline Structure
Perched on stilts above an inlet of Bandak Lake in southern Norway, Soria Moria commands attention with its sharp, crystalline silhouette. The design, inspired by the geometry of the surrounding mountains, features a sculptural roofline clad in locally sourced wooden shingles. Interspersed among the shingles, gleaming golden tiles add a touch of opulence, referencing both regional folklore and the grandeur of the nearby 19th-century Dalen Hotel. While economically proportioned, housing a sauna chamber, changing facilities, and a sheltered terrace, the spatial impact is remarkably expansive. The interior is warmed by timber panels, and carefully placed apertures offer picturesque views of the lake and valley. The elevated base ensures easy access without disrupting the delicate shoreline ecosystem.
Wildwater Sauna: Nomadic Charm
The Wildwater Sauna embodies a nomadic spirit, with its location changing every 28 days according to the lunar cycle, set against the rugged beauty of the Welsh coast. Conceived as a traveling sauna ritual within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, this mobile unit was expertly fabricated by Danish studio Scandinavian Sauna. It features fire-treated cladding mounted on a steel chassis. Its gently pitched roof, softened by rounded corners and low eaves, has a modest appearance that belies its ambitious concept. As it moves from place to place, it resembles a traveling fireplace. The darkened exterior, reminiscent of driftwood or coal, allows it to blend discreetly with the coastal cliffs and dune grasses. Inside, the warmth is provided by a wood-fired stove, and the Welsh western red cedar lining holds the heat efficiently. Accommodating up to six bathers, its bench design encourages interaction while also allowing for personal reflection.
