C Project Type wa_sauna
wa_sauna Project Summary Lot Size Building Size Location Project Type:
n/a 240 Sq Ft Seattle, Washington Human scale - Floating structure
P o P L B L P
wa_sauna Project Narrative The idea for the floating sauna was born on a cold and wet winter’s day in January. Combining our love of the water, the relaxing dry heat of saunas, and floating structures, the project began to take shape. We focused on primal concepts of fire, water, and community. We were searching for a way to engage the water surrounding our city, enticing visitors onto the lakes year round. We called this project ‘wa_sauna’ and felt it would be a welcome addition to the Pacific Northwest landscape and its adventurous people. wa_sauna explores ideas of community, journey, and retreat. Following in the Scandinavian tradition of saunas as a place for gathering, wa_sauna provides a place for the community to share a unique experience on the water. Constructed on an aluminum frame topped with a marine-grade plywood platform and resting upon a network of 55-gallon drums attached underneath, the sauna is clad with a stained plywood skin and a spruce interior. The sauna accommodates up to six people and is heated by a wood-burning stove. A low-speed electric trolling motor enables the sauna to navigate Seattle’s lakes, which in turn provide the requisite cold plunge post sauna. Deck cleats allow kayakers to venture out and tie off to the surrounding deck. wa_sauna was funded through the support of the local community and a crowdfunding campaign. In the same spirit of crowdfunding wa_sauna, the project was built by our studio and a team of talented volunteers, all with close connections to the architecture community and unique construction skills. Building this project was full of interesting stories and challenges along the way. This project could not have happened without the support of the community and the new connections made in the build process. Maneuvring a 14’ high, 4,500lb structure from the warehouse to the public boat ramp and into the water was a one of the most challenging days. Towed on 6 steel casters with a 1980 VW Vanagon, we slowly crept along at dawn making the 8 block trip to the boat ramp. The contrast of steel casters on rough gravel and pavement to the feeling of this structure gently floating was the most exciting moment of the build. wa_sauna can now be seen regularly on Lake Union and Lake Washington. Quietly exploring the lakes, wa_sauna allows users to find peace and quiet in the warmth of the sauna, with endless unique views of Seattle and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
The sauna is an apotheosis of all experience: Purgatory and paradise; earth and fire; fire and water; sin and forgiveness. It is eternal new birth. You are healed, you are made new. Constance Malleson 1936
Daybreak
wa_sauna provides a place of refuge and reflection in an ever changing urban landscape. The surrounding deck invites passing kayakers to tie on and partake in a new experience on the water.
Concept
To create a floating sauna for the community. The challenge was how to successfully build such a structure that was not a temporary installation, nor a permitted recreation dock. The design evolved from a simple anchored floating platform, into a registered self propelled vessel.
Swim ladder Roof ladder
Cool-down hatch
Wood benches
Diving board
Wood burning stove
Metal deck cleats
Wood deck Aluminum frame w/ (28) 55 gallon barrels below
Battery hatch, (3) 36V deep cycle marine batteries
Plan
The sauna box sits within a surrounding wood platform which creates a balanced vessel on the water as well as a space for gathering. Each corner of the sauna box is glazed to provide entry, roof access, and views to the surrounding landscape.
Electric trolling motor
Hilliard’s Beer
VW Van tow to boat ramp
Public Boat Ramp Boat tow to marina
Boat Street Marina
Typical sauna float routes Union Bay
Portage Bay
Lake Union
Construction Site
Location 1: Lake Union
Public Boat Ramp
Location 2: Portage Bay
Site Map & Float Route Home
Location 1: Union Bay
Arrive
The prefabricated modular aluminum frame (shipped to Seattle with its WA state boat registration) allowed for quick construction and a proven system for providing floatation. The air-tight barrels allowed for fine tuning of the ballast by letting in water where required.
Materials
Ebony stained wood panels allow the sauna to heat up quickly in the sunlight. A simple form creates a strong silhouette inviting boaters to interact with this unusual vessel.
Interior
A space clad in traditional spruce planks with a wood-burning stove at the center create a familiar sauna experience in an unfamiliar setting.
Cool Down
The back wall hinges open to quickly cool down the sauna interior in preparation for mooring. The back deck offers another location to gather and interact with boaters. The ladder leads to the roof deck and diving plank for an adventurous cold plunge.
Construction
A five week construction period in a local warehouse enabled the construction of wa_sauna on dry land.
The Move
Six temporary steel casters support the 4,500 lb structure as our trusty 1980 VW Vanagon towed wa_sauna from the warehouse to the Ballard public boat ramp.
Concept renderings and elevations
Early imagery captured the imagination of the local community and was used to represent the project during the crowdfunding campaign.
Gather
wa_sauna is self-propelled by an electric motor allowing impromptu gatherings around Lake Union and Portage Bay. Traditionally, saunas are social spaces that bring together different members of the community. wa_sauna is a unique space for these gatherings to occur in different places every outing.
wa_sauna
The project is a magnetic hub of activity on the lake.
n/a 240 Sq Ft Seattle, Washington Human scale - Floating structure
P o P L B L P
wa_sauna Project Narrative The idea for the floating sauna was born on a cold and wet winter’s day in January. Combining our love of the water, the relaxing dry heat of saunas, and floating structures, the project began to take shape. We focused on primal concepts of fire, water, and community. We were searching for a way to engage the water surrounding our city, enticing visitors onto the lakes year round. We called this project ‘wa_sauna’ and felt it would be a welcome addition to the Pacific Northwest landscape and its adventurous people. wa_sauna explores ideas of community, journey, and retreat. Following in the Scandinavian tradition of saunas as a place for gathering, wa_sauna provides a place for the community to share a unique experience on the water. Constructed on an aluminum frame topped with a marine-grade plywood platform and resting upon a network of 55-gallon drums attached underneath, the sauna is clad with a stained plywood skin and a spruce interior. The sauna accommodates up to six people and is heated by a wood-burning stove. A low-speed electric trolling motor enables the sauna to navigate Seattle’s lakes, which in turn provide the requisite cold plunge post sauna. Deck cleats allow kayakers to venture out and tie off to the surrounding deck. wa_sauna was funded through the support of the local community and a crowdfunding campaign. In the same spirit of crowdfunding wa_sauna, the project was built by our studio and a team of talented volunteers, all with close connections to the architecture community and unique construction skills. Building this project was full of interesting stories and challenges along the way. This project could not have happened without the support of the community and the new connections made in the build process. Maneuvring a 14’ high, 4,500lb structure from the warehouse to the public boat ramp and into the water was a one of the most challenging days. Towed on 6 steel casters with a 1980 VW Vanagon, we slowly crept along at dawn making the 8 block trip to the boat ramp. The contrast of steel casters on rough gravel and pavement to the feeling of this structure gently floating was the most exciting moment of the build. wa_sauna can now be seen regularly on Lake Union and Lake Washington. Quietly exploring the lakes, wa_sauna allows users to find peace and quiet in the warmth of the sauna, with endless unique views of Seattle and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
The sauna is an apotheosis of all experience: Purgatory and paradise; earth and fire; fire and water; sin and forgiveness. It is eternal new birth. You are healed, you are made new. Constance Malleson 1936
Daybreak
wa_sauna provides a place of refuge and reflection in an ever changing urban landscape. The surrounding deck invites passing kayakers to tie on and partake in a new experience on the water.
Concept
To create a floating sauna for the community. The challenge was how to successfully build such a structure that was not a temporary installation, nor a permitted recreation dock. The design evolved from a simple anchored floating platform, into a registered self propelled vessel.
Swim ladder Roof ladder
Cool-down hatch
Wood benches
Diving board
Wood burning stove
Metal deck cleats
Wood deck Aluminum frame w/ (28) 55 gallon barrels below
Battery hatch, (3) 36V deep cycle marine batteries
Plan
The sauna box sits within a surrounding wood platform which creates a balanced vessel on the water as well as a space for gathering. Each corner of the sauna box is glazed to provide entry, roof access, and views to the surrounding landscape.
Electric trolling motor
Hilliard’s Beer
VW Van tow to boat ramp
Public Boat Ramp Boat tow to marina
Boat Street Marina
Typical sauna float routes Union Bay
Portage Bay
Lake Union
Construction Site
Location 1: Lake Union
Public Boat Ramp
Location 2: Portage Bay
Site Map & Float Route Home
Location 1: Union Bay
Arrive
The prefabricated modular aluminum frame (shipped to Seattle with its WA state boat registration) allowed for quick construction and a proven system for providing floatation. The air-tight barrels allowed for fine tuning of the ballast by letting in water where required.
Materials
Ebony stained wood panels allow the sauna to heat up quickly in the sunlight. A simple form creates a strong silhouette inviting boaters to interact with this unusual vessel.
Interior
A space clad in traditional spruce planks with a wood-burning stove at the center create a familiar sauna experience in an unfamiliar setting.
Cool Down
The back wall hinges open to quickly cool down the sauna interior in preparation for mooring. The back deck offers another location to gather and interact with boaters. The ladder leads to the roof deck and diving plank for an adventurous cold plunge.
Construction
A five week construction period in a local warehouse enabled the construction of wa_sauna on dry land.
The Move
Six temporary steel casters support the 4,500 lb structure as our trusty 1980 VW Vanagon towed wa_sauna from the warehouse to the Ballard public boat ramp.
Concept renderings and elevations
Early imagery captured the imagination of the local community and was used to represent the project during the crowdfunding campaign.
Gather
wa_sauna is self-propelled by an electric motor allowing impromptu gatherings around Lake Union and Portage Bay. Traditionally, saunas are social spaces that bring together different members of the community. wa_sauna is a unique space for these gatherings to occur in different places every outing.
wa_sauna
The project is a magnetic hub of activity on the lake.
