“A sauna is best enjoyed together,” says Oslo Works, the architectural design studio behind the Hotspot, a communal sauna it recently installed in a neighbourhood along the Nesodden peninsula, a short ferry ride away from Oslo. 

Responding to the community’s desire for an eco-friendly and social sauna, the Hotspot is composed of easy-to-transport and assemble massive wood modules and is divided into two parts – a pair of small changing rooms and storage to the right and the hot room with wood fire oven to the left. A narrow passageway separates the two zones and leads to a diving platform with bathing ladder for cold plunges. 

Clad in burnt and oiled ore-pine shingles, the structure sits on the edge of the lake, blending in with its surroundings. An expansive window on the rounded-wall sauna side provides spectacular views towards the city skyline to those reaping the health benefits inside. While site-specific, the design of Hotspot is based on modularity for a possible prefab future and can be expanded with a number of accessories like a diving board, shower, rooftop terrace and solar cell panels. 

To bring a traditional outdoor sauna experience home, we’ve gathered five prefab models that offer both abundant health benefits and a sleek, modern design: 

1

System S Sauna by The Backcountry Hut Company

Co-founded by Wilson Edgar and architect Michael Leckie in 2015, Vancouver-based The Backcountry Hut Company brings architecturally driven recreational structures to even the remotest of locations. The modernist offerings range from sleek A-frame shelters to single- and double-storey cabins and – more recently – the cube-like System S freestanding sauna (developed in collaboration with Martin Mansikka, principal at Talo Green Build Project Management). 

Inspired by Nordic sauna culture, the System S sauna has a compact footprint of 2.4 by 3 metres, arrives fully assembled and is easily integrated with an existing electrical system. Rigorously constructed with a tightly sealed, painted-steel exterior, System S withstands even the harshest of climates, with a large double-paned thermal glazed panoramic window providing fantastic views to the outside. Inside, the sustainably sourced, knot-free western red cedar interior planks ensure an even distribution of heat and the two-level bench can comfortably accommodate up to six people; indirect lighting under the bench heightens the inviting atmosphere. 

2

Drop Sauna by Drop

Outdoor wellness brand Drop has been offering design-forward spas and firepits inspired by the natural beauty of the land of a thousand lakes since 2015 – and its recently introduced Drop Sauna is no exception. 

With its signature waterdrop-shaped detail – in this case as an insulated glass window – the modern outdoor Drop sauna is a turnkey solution that only needs a flat, load-bearing surface (and an electrician) for installation. Made from CLT, the exterior can be treated with a clear or black stain or painted and the interior walls and bench – which seats up to five – are treated with a neutral sauna wax to highlight the beauty of the wood. Heat comes from a wood-burning or electric stove and LED strips along the back wall and in the ceiling enhance the warm and healing environment. Drop products are currently available across Europe with future plans to expand to North America. 

3

Portable Sauna Tent by North Shore Sauna

Want to take your sauna with you? North Shore Sauna delivers with its portable Sauna Tent. Engineered to be easily foldable, the pop-up tents are made from two sheets of durable heat-resistant 300D Oxford fabric with a layer of insulation ultrasonically quilted between them, and are powered by a specially crafted portable wood-fed stove, which can be augmented with up to 38 pounds of thermal sauna stones. 

Tent sizes vary to accommodate from two to eight people, and the brand offers a number of coordinating accessories to support the overall experience: a Western red cedar and aluminum two-tier bench; oak and birch veniks (or whisks) that promote circulation, detoxification and other health benefits; a sleek black aluminum water bucket and ladle set; heat-resistant leather gloves for handling the stones; a firewood carrying bag; and more. The Sauna Tent and its accoutrements are lightweight and compact, meaning an authentic experience can happen in your backyard, on a camping trip or almost anywhere. 

4

Tyto Sauna by Out of the Valley

The latest offering from British outdoor sauna manufacturer Out of the Valley, Tyto brings a “streamlined thermal experience” to the backyard. Hand-built at the brand’s Devon workshop, the sauna features a handsome Thermowood exterior, which is wire-brushed with natural black oil to achieve a rich tone and compelling texture. The warm Thermo aspen panelling on the inside is complemented by light or dark grey concrete-look porcelain tiles and natural sheep’s wool insulation with a slow-grown larch vapour cavity that efficiently manages moisture and ventilation. Up to three people can fit on the integrated bench with an angled backrest and an adjustable LED system creates the perfect ambiance, day or night. 

The modern outdoor sauna includes an entrance deck as well as convenient hooks for towels and robes, with edge-to-edge high-temperature sealed double-glazed windows providing an intimate connection to nature and the surrounding environment; a privacy glass option is also available. Equipped with either a wood-burning or electric stove, the Tyto sauna can be further customized with a back deck, exterior bench, outdoor shower and log storage. 

5

Mira by Auroom

The minimalist Mira sauna from Estonia-based Auroom packs a lot of heat in its compact space-saving design. Suitable for installation on terraces and balconies as well as in smaller backyards and gardens, the sleek square structure is offered in two sizes – Mira S and Mira L – that accommodate two and four people respectively, without compromising comfort. 

Individually hand-crafted to exacting standards, each modern outdoor sauna features thermo-spruce exterior cladding in either natural or black finishes, and a beautiful thermos-aspen interior that is highlighted by LEDs integrated behind the backrest of the built-in bench. Fronted by an expansive clear glass window, the Mira sauna has multiple heater models that can be customized with different casings and slats.