Sauna 001
St. Paul, MN — Space
When a garden of native vegetation and established trees already feels complete, introducing something new requires restraint. Sauna 001 began with that balance in mind. The owners wanted to add a sauna and cold plunge while enclosing their yard, but without disrupting the existing landscape. Careful attention was given to the patterns already in place, from the pathways underfoot to the drip lines of the trees above. After studying several possible locations, the project found its place at the edge of the yard, where it could look back toward the garden rather than compete with it.
Framing the Garden
Set within the quiet backdrop of a cedar fence, the sauna becomes part of the boundary rather than an object placed within the yard. It aligns with the edge of the garden, reinforcing its perimeter and allowing the interior landscape to remain uninterrupted. Instead of drawing attention to itself, the structure recedes, reading as an extension of the fence line. The garden continues to take precedence, with the architecture supporting its presence rather than competing with it.
This approach creates a new way to inhabit the yard without altering its character. By embedding the sauna into the edge, the owners gain an additional space to occupy and experience their garden from a different vantage point. It becomes a place to pause along the perimeter, to look back inward, and to engage the landscape in a quieter, more deliberate way.
Between Spaces
The experience of the sauna begins with a subtle shift in elevation. You descend slightly into the ground toward an opening in the fence, where the entry is nearly indistinguishable from the cedar surface around it. The threshold feels concealed, as if discovered rather than announced. Stepping inside, a small vestibule organizes the experience and frames the two primary spaces.
On one side, the sauna is lined in cedar, with built-in seating and a single window that looks back toward the garden. The view is focused and calm, offering a moment of stillness within the warmth of the space. On the other side, the plunge pool is enclosed by cedar walls, creating a sense of complete privacy. Above, the enclosure opens to the oak canopy, allowing light and air to filter in. Moving between heat and cold, enclosure and openness, the sequence creates a rhythm that heightens awareness of both body and surroundings.