Sauna culture is spreading. Sitting in a deep heat environment has been an established tradition, born centuries ago in several countries across the globe. Yet the activity’s popularity is still rapidly growing, and as it does, the understanding of its advantages, beyond the better-publicised physical benefits, has followed suit. Mental wellbeing, as well as the nurturing of our connection with nature, and the fostering of history and community, are equally strong, positive outcomes of partaking. A new book, Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat, produced by Welbeck Publishing, written by Wallpaper* contributing editor Emma O’Kelly, and featuring bespoke photography by Maija Astikainen, explores all this and more, delving into the history, rituals and mythology around the much-loved pursuit.
Soria Moria sauna, Norway
'Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat': the book
Architecturally, it’s a rich typology. From boutique, private affairs, to communal-sized structures for everyone to enjoy, and from contemporary, design-led pieces to those with a more self-build, craft-based approach, there is something for everyone in this book featuring more than 50 saunas across 11 countries, from the Scandinavian ones to the UK, Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Japan.
The book explores cold barrel baths in Hackney’s Community Sauna Baths in the UK; the unusual, round Ödevata Gårdshotell sauna in Emmaboda, Sweden; a mini-tower-like, viewing platform of a sauna in Eldmølla, Vang i Valdres Norway; and the quirky Kammikylä sauna in Nummijärvi, Finland.
OOD hotel laheranna, Estonia
Beyond the strict design components, the book also examines sauna mechanisms (from making the perfect steam to its effects on our brain cells, immune responses and hormones); modern technologies (infrared saunas can offer the same benefits as steam ones, while removing some of the inconvenience – ‘it heats the body not the air, so it’s not hot on the skin’); as well as the sauna’s relationship to the other extreme temperature activity on the rise, cold water swimming.
Mantta art sauna, Finland
‘Scientists say regular saunas help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia, boost immunity and help with fatigue, depression and more,’ O’Kelly writes in the introduction. ‘Putting our bodies through the thermo-regulatory ping-pong that is sauna followed by cold rinse, sauna followed by cold rinse, is extremely good for us – and it’s not as challenging as cold-water swimming on its own. There’s a reason why sauna-loving nations, such as Finland, Sweden and Norway, jostle for the top spots in the annual United Nations World Happiness Report every year.’
Suvisaaristo archipelago sauna, Finland
Vorumaa Marks clay sauna, Estonia
Maijas tent sauna, Finland
Matkuslampi iglusauna, Finland
Lappebu sauna, Norway
Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat, by Emma O'Kelly, Welbeck Publishing, is published 14 September 2023, £22.99
Also available from amazon.co.uk
-
Bocci and Anna Carnick join forces on a showcase of evocative design practices in Berlin'Crafting Community' is on view at Berlin's Wilhelm Hallen until 14 September 2025
-
The story behind a one-of-a-kind Dieter Rams handbag, reborn by German leather brand TsatsasA new exhibition at Vitsœ’s London store celebrates the ‘931’ bag, designed by Dieter Rams for his wife Ingeborg in 1963 and reborn over half a century later in a collaboration between Rams and German leather accessories brand Tsatsas
-
A Miami pied-à-terre channels Art Deco glamour and endless summerInterior designer Olga Malyev reimagines a South of Fifth apartment with bold colour, vintage treasures and a sunlit spirit that captures Miami’s timeless allure
-
Around the world in brutalist interiors – take a tour with this new book'Brutalist Interiors' is a new book exploring the genre's most spectacular spaces; we speak to its editor Derek Lamberton, and ask for his top-three must-sees
-
15 years of Assemble, the community-driven British architecture collectiveRich in information and visuals, 'Assemble: Building Collective' is a new book celebrating the Turner Prize-winning architecture collective, its community-driven hits and its challenges
-
From giant ducks to Martian-style homes, weird (and wonderful) buildings around the worldNew book ‘Weird Buildings’ from Hoxton Mini Press encourages readers to think outside the box with a selection of architecture that is functional and fantastical
-
A new book delves into Frei Otto’s obsession with creating ultra-light architecture‘Frei Otto: Building with Nature’ traces the life and work of the German architect and engineer, a pioneer of high-tech design and organic structures
-
Modernist Travel Guide: a handy companion to explore modernism across the globe‘Modernist Travel Guide’, a handy new pocket-sized book for travel lovers and modernist architecture fans, comes courtesy of Wallpaper* contributor Adam Štěch and his passion for modernism
-
Ukrainian Modernism: a timely but bittersweet survey of the country’s best modern buildingsNew book ‘Ukrainian Modernism’ captures the country's vanishing modernist architecture, besieged by bombs, big business and the desire for a break with the past
-
New book 'I-IN' brings together Japanese heritage and minimalist architecture at its finestJapanese architecture studio I-IN flaunts its expert command of 21st-century minimalism in a new book by Frame Publishers
-
Tour the wonderful homes of ‘Casa Mexicana’, an ode to residential architecture in Mexico‘Casa Mexicana’ is a new book celebrating the country’s residential architecture, highlighting its influence across the world
