'sæla'
Summary
This project began as a quiet personal exploration. I’ve written about my growing love of sauna recently on my substack: ‘Notes on swimming, sweating and a sense of community‘
I called it sæla, it’s the Icelandic word for “bliss.” It felt like the right word for something rooted in stillness, clarity, and presence.
One evening, after deciding not to head to the sauna, I found myself imagining what my perfect sauna might look and feel like.
Built entirely in Blender, this was an exercise in dreaming big, ignoring the ‘rules’ and having fun.
Client
Independent Work
Commissions
Creative Direction
3D Design
Concept Development
Environment Design
Editor
Video content shared on socials
The Concept
For me, the ideal sauna is always immersed in nature, by a body of water, open to the landscape, with full views of the elements.
Most saunas I’ve seen are boxed in. This one isn’t. It’s built with 360° glass, a skylight, and a living roof that spills over the edges with hanging plants.
Inside, there’s a central burner, like a campfire, surrounded by two-tiered seating for connection and conversation. Saunas can be wonderfully social places that give community a space to be with one another and ‘bare’ all.
And similarly around the perimeter, a separate outer bench faces outwards, offering moments of solitude with nothing but the view.
The aim was to design a space where solitude and community could not only coexist but feel equally held, because for me, sauna is both.
