Sauna Design

This course will begin with the historical origins of the sauna and the cultural roots of the Finnish tradition. From this foundation of understanding, we will explore the development of the technology from its inception to the present time, concluding with hands-on design work and reviews of each project in the studio. The course will include lectures, discussions, independent design exercises, and a field trip to tour local saunas.

Course Objectives:

• fundamental principles of how saunas function
• program development
• material specification
• basic design principles

Materials to bring

• Information on your site, such as pictures, information on existing buildings,  plans, measurements, and surveys

• If you are planning to design a sauna in an existing structure, measure/photograph the space and the surrounding area
• Note: If you don’t have a specific site, you can select a site to use for a hypothetical project. We suggest selecting a site you are familiar with (a friend or family member's backyard, for example) or picking a site on the Yestermorrow campus.

• Design background info, such as how many people will be using the sauna 

• A notebook, pens, and pencils