ABOUT
The Build
The intention of this public sauna build was to use non-toxic materials and for it to be as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible. For the internal panelling, Redwood from a local forest in Putāruru was used. NZ sheep wool lines the walls and NZ colour steel covers the outside. A double glazed window with toughened glass is used to let in light and non-toxic mineral boards sit under the floor. A 26 kW Harvia wood-burning stove from Finland heats the 15 person sauna and a small entrance room reduces heat loss when the door is opened. The total weight of the sauna is 1,850 kg.
The Builder
Sam Jameson spent four years in Scandinavia where he was introduced to the sauna culture and to the design and construction of saunas. Sam had moved to Denmark to study Chemistry, however, after finishing he sought after carpentry-based work. Sam built his first sauna funded by the EU, hosting a sustainable building project, stemming from his appreciation of the toxicity of chemicals to humans and to the environment. Since moving back to NZ in 2022, Sam wants to grow the sauna culture in NZ with better and healthier saunas.