A remarkable floating sauna designed by Rabagast Studio has been unveiled at Opaker Gård, an eco-farm in Norway, where it rests peacefully on the waters of a small forest lake. The unique 33-square-meter structure represents a community-focused architectural initiative that combines sustainable design with traditional wellness practices, offering visitors a tranquil retreat to reconnect with nature.
The project emerged from the eco-farm's commitment to giving back to the local community by creating a space where people can gather, slow down, and find respite from modern life's demands. The sauna serves as both a wellness facility and a social hub, fostering community connections while promoting the restorative benefits of nature immersion and traditional sauna culture.
What makes this project particularly noteworthy is its construction methodology and timeline. The entire structure was designed and built by students over an intensive two-week period, showcasing the potential for collaborative educational projects to create meaningful architectural contributions. From the initial sketches to the completed floating structure, the student team demonstrated remarkable efficiency and skill in bringing this vision to life.
The sauna's floating design allows it to harmonize with its natural surroundings while minimizing environmental impact on the lake ecosystem. The structure appears to hover gently on the water's surface, creating an almost mystical experience for users who can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the sauna while being surrounded by the pristine forest landscape.
Photographed by Peter Elias Hoddevik and Bianca Daumas, the completed structure represents a successful fusion of traditional Scandinavian sauna culture with contemporary sustainable architecture. The project demonstrates how educational initiatives can produce practical, community-serving architecture while providing students with hands-on experience in design and construction processes.
