Sauna Tuomisaari

Sauna Tuomisaari is located on the remote island of the lake Päijänne next to an old log building. The design fades the boundary between indoor and outdoor space creating a more spacious atmosphere and enabling the possibility to enjoy the surrounding nature even in bad weather. The dark cabin hides in the forest and simultaneously opens views to the lake. A footbridge connects the new cabin and the old log hut.

The dark frame structure formed by the building’s roof and facades surrounds the sauna built in a box of logs. A glass-walled attic is located on top of the log box. The roof ridge running diagonally from corner to corner of the building forms a sail-like ceiling creating variation in room height. A small dining area is located aside the log box with glass walls to the lake and to the forest. On the other side of the log box is a narrow outdoor space for cooling off after the sauna.

A large covered terrace offer more space for the small cabin and create long eaves protecting the log surfaces and shading the glass walls from the hot sun. The stairs leading to the attic, a small entrance and a bunk bed are also located in the log frame.

The kitchen, fireplace, outdoor storage and a four-meter-high space for the outdoor shower are integrated into the dark frame structure. The sauna benches are built in a similar way to the log structures. The water basin integrated into the benches also functions as a sauna light, reflecting light through the water onto the ceiling. A frameless window open up a long panoramic view to the lake Päijänne from the sauna.

The wooden building is founded on concrete columns. Large LVL-beams support the long span of the roof and the diagonal ridge beam is supported by a steel column. The trees of the log frame have been cut from own forest.

CREDITS