Responding to the continuing rise in wellness-based hospitality, Nokken has introduced the Super Sauna to the industry: A modular, plug-and-play structure that brings the luxury of restorative contrast therapy to a range of settings in under a day. 

Since its founding in 2022 by U.K. designers Nathan Aylott and James Van Tromp, Nokken has been upending the conventional approach to hospitality by developing wellness-based amenities that fit seamlessly within nature. Applying knowledge and expertise honed through their design studio Aylott + Van Tromp, which specializes in hospitality and retail brand activation, architecture and experiential design, Nokken has quickly become known for its flexible, bespoke modular cabins that provide an opportunity for travellers and guests to connect with nature in fully immersive ways. “People want to be in nature but with the comforts of a boutique hotel room,” says Aylott, explaining the reasoning behind the brand. 

Through their work at Aylott + Van Tromp, the two directors began noticing a shift in the tourism industry about 10 years ago — people were becoming more interested in the “experience rather than the expense,” and were looking for places that offered more than simply a well-designed suite. With Nokken, they have made introducing these types of scenarios easier and quicker for hotel and hospitality operators. Focused on sustainability, low-impact design and economic viability, the structures are built from FSC-certified timber, are low maintenance and require little in the way of foundational work or infrastructure. 

The new Super Sauna is a prime example of Nokken’s ethos. The commercial-grade, ten-person panoramic sauna arrives fully assembled, is craned into place, easily connects to a site’s existing framework (some pre-prepared foundational work is required) and can be up and running within 24 hours. Designed with a minimalist architectural language, the 10-metre-long sauna has a streamlined profile and restrained materials palette: Thermo-spruce and -pine clad the exterior and interior walls, floors and two- or three-tier benches, lending visual warmth to the physical heat therapy the Super Sauna provides; dual stainless-steel cold plunge tubs that can be chilled to three degrees and an outdoor shower complete the hot-cold ritual within the singular treatment space. 

Two standard models are offered by Nokken, each presenting a distinct expression and aesthetic for different geographic settings. With a dramatically deep and dark exterior finish, the Black Edition makes a striking focal point in dense forests, rugged Nordic coastlines and modernist estates; the Baja Edition, meanwhile, features a warmer and brighter design that effortlessly complements desert environments and sun-lit beaches and coastlines. 

No matter the surroundings, the Super Sauna from Nokken positions the natural environment as a major part of the stay itself, providing guests with a space for restorative healing and hospitality venues with a meaningful wellness experience with little effort.