Seattle, WA Project Type AWS
Project Name: wa_sauna Lot Size: n/a Building Size: 240 sq ft Location: Seattle, WA Project Type: Human Scale, Floating Structure
wa_sauna Project Narrative: As a young practice seeking to develop work which reflects the values and ideals of the projects we want to work on, we sought to design, fund, and build this project. The idea for the floating sauna was born on a cold and wet winter’s day in January 2014. 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 engages the ideas of journey and discovery; creating a unique experience and refuge on the water that offers a different perspective on the landscape. Boaters and kayakers can venture out and tie off to the surrounding deck, allowing for the sauna tradition to take place on Seattle’s lakes. The project was funded through the support of the local community and a crowdfunding campaign in the Fall of 2014. 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. We were generously donated a large space in the production warehouse of Hilliard’s Beer and began fabrication in July 2015. Maneuvering a 14’ high, 4,500lb structure from the warehouse to the public boat ramp and into the water was a challenging process. 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 in just under 3 hours. 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 process.
wa_sauna can now be seen regularly on Lake Union and Lake Washington. The sauna is a registered vessel, powered by an electric trolling motor with (3) 12-volt batteries and heated by a wood burning stove. 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 sounds of the fire crackling and the gentle water around them.
“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
wa_sauna at daybreak on a cool September morning
Concept elevations
Concept rendering, January 2014
Hilliard’s Beer
VW Van tow to boat ramp First float Boat tow to marina
Boat Street Marina
Typical sauna float routes Union Bay
Portage Bay
Lake Union
Site Map and Float Routes
Swim ladder Roof ladder Cool-down hatch
Wood benches Diving board
Wood burning stove
Metal deck cleats
Concept Isometric
Wood deck Aluminum frame w/ (28) 55 gallon barrels below Battery hatch, (3) 36V deep cycle marine batteries
Electric trolling motor
Initial Concept Sketch
wa_sauna Plan
Pre-fab aluminum frame, 55 gallon barrels, and wood deck
Ebony stained plywood cladding
Doors open
Temporary steel casters
Ready to be towed
wa_sauna constructed at Hilliard’s Beer in Seattle
Rolling out of the warehouse at dawn
Shimming the last stretch to the boat ramp
A VW Vanagon towed wa_sauna the 8 blocks to the boat ramp
The first float
wa_sauna on Lake Union, view south to Seattle skyline
wa_sauna on Lake Union, view north to Gas Works Park
wa_sauna motoring out of the marina and under the I-5 bridge
Passing under the University Bridge
Anticipating a high dive
Full height slot windows afford views to the water and glimpses for passing boaters
Spruce lined interior with slot windows at each corner
Cool-down hatch
Cold plunge
Sweat - Swim - Splash
Ebony stained exterior with natural spruce interior
wa_sauna Project Narrative: As a young practice seeking to develop work which reflects the values and ideals of the projects we want to work on, we sought to design, fund, and build this project. The idea for the floating sauna was born on a cold and wet winter’s day in January 2014. 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 engages the ideas of journey and discovery; creating a unique experience and refuge on the water that offers a different perspective on the landscape. Boaters and kayakers can venture out and tie off to the surrounding deck, allowing for the sauna tradition to take place on Seattle’s lakes. The project was funded through the support of the local community and a crowdfunding campaign in the Fall of 2014. 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. We were generously donated a large space in the production warehouse of Hilliard’s Beer and began fabrication in July 2015. Maneuvering a 14’ high, 4,500lb structure from the warehouse to the public boat ramp and into the water was a challenging process. 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 in just under 3 hours. 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 process.
wa_sauna can now be seen regularly on Lake Union and Lake Washington. The sauna is a registered vessel, powered by an electric trolling motor with (3) 12-volt batteries and heated by a wood burning stove. 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 sounds of the fire crackling and the gentle water around them.
“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
wa_sauna at daybreak on a cool September morning
Concept elevations
Concept rendering, January 2014
Hilliard’s Beer
VW Van tow to boat ramp First float Boat tow to marina
Boat Street Marina
Typical sauna float routes Union Bay
Portage Bay
Lake Union
Site Map and Float Routes
Swim ladder Roof ladder Cool-down hatch
Wood benches Diving board
Wood burning stove
Metal deck cleats
Concept Isometric
Wood deck Aluminum frame w/ (28) 55 gallon barrels below Battery hatch, (3) 36V deep cycle marine batteries
Electric trolling motor
Initial Concept Sketch
wa_sauna Plan
Pre-fab aluminum frame, 55 gallon barrels, and wood deck
Ebony stained plywood cladding
Doors open
Temporary steel casters
Ready to be towed
wa_sauna constructed at Hilliard’s Beer in Seattle
Rolling out of the warehouse at dawn
Shimming the last stretch to the boat ramp
A VW Vanagon towed wa_sauna the 8 blocks to the boat ramp
The first float
wa_sauna on Lake Union, view south to Seattle skyline
wa_sauna on Lake Union, view north to Gas Works Park
wa_sauna motoring out of the marina and under the I-5 bridge
Passing under the University Bridge
Anticipating a high dive
Full height slot windows afford views to the water and glimpses for passing boaters
Spruce lined interior with slot windows at each corner
Cool-down hatch
Cold plunge
Sweat - Swim - Splash
Ebony stained exterior with natural spruce interior
