Students of Estonian Academy of Arts Build a Floating Sauna in Soomaa
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Soomaa, which translates as "swamp land" in Estonian, has a new attraction for its visitors — a floating wilderness sauna. Named "VALA," meaning "pour" in English, the sauna has been built by the students of Estonian Academy of Arts. The students were aske
Students of Estonian Academy of Arts Build a Floating Sauna in Soomaa
Soomaa, which translates as "swamp land" in Estonian, has a new attraction for its visitors — a floating wilderness sauna. Named "VALA," meaning "pour" in English, the sauna has been built by the students of Estonian Academy of Arts. The students were asked to build an object in response to the geographical and climatic conditions of Soomaa, a swampy area of thick forests that floods once every year. The students came up with floating architecture as a fitting choice.According to architect Karlin Tougu, one of the tutors, “VALA sauna is unique because of the way the hot core of the sauna and the cool river water have been designed to meet and intertwine in a tiny space. The river stream splashing right under the seats of the hot room was a novel idea.” The sauna has been designed in such a way that the sauna visitor can slip into the river water directly from the steam room without having to exit through a door. Professor Hannes Praks, the initiator of the summer school, adds: “building a sauna embraces both architecture, interior architecture, construction physics, various climatic, and cultural aspects.”The project was led by architect and artist Sami Rintala (Finland), head of the Estonian Academy of Arts (EAA) Interior Architecture department Hannes Praks, and Estonian architecture office b210.The sauna is open for free public use, for local people as well as visitors. The site is maintained by the Estonian Forest Management Centre.For more details, visit: https://www.artun.ee/ Read more
