Ondsauna Sauna by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award yn Brûns in Arsjitektuer, Gebou en Struktuerûntwerp Competition Category.

BrûnsArsjitektuer· 2025

Ondsauna Sauna

by Taro Shimokawa

Client: Ondpark

A' Design Award yn Brûns Winner in Arsjitektuer Category

14,328
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #165443

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ondsauna Sauna

Ondsauna is in saunagebou dat yn in bosk pleatst is. Fertikale bûtenmuorren binne om de saunaromte hinne groepearre, wat de opwurdske groei fan beammen wjerspegelet. In spiraalfoarmich paad liedt nei in rêstromte op it dak. De yngong leit 250 millimeter boppe it grûnnivo, it koudwetterplatfoarm op 1000 millimeter en it dak op 3250 millimeter, sadat de beweging fan sauna nei kâld wetter nei bûtenloft fertikaal is. In ûnregelmjittich fjilhoekich plan en stompe banken stjoere de sichtlinen en litte besikers har eigen nivo fan ynteraksje kieze.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Brûns

Ondsauna Sauna is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Brûns, in heech prestisjeuze erkenning foar treflike ûntwerpen dy't har ûnderskiede troch kreativiteit, fernuft en tûkens. Brûnswinners binne tige feardige en opfallend kreative artefakten dy't de grutte ûnderfining, ferbylding en betochtsumens fan har ûntwerpers befêstigje. Fan Ondsauna Sauna wurdt ferwachte dat it in tige heech achte, bewûndere en dierber objekt is dat opmerklik profesjoneel en ynnovatyf is. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Brûns yntegrearret de bêste praktiken yn keunst, wittenskip, ûntwerp en technology en is treflik om syn omtinken foar detail. Ondsauna Sauna foldocht behoeften prachtich, reitsjet winsken, betsjoeveret gefoelens en sprekt nijsgjirrigens oan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Trees grow endlessly upward, a concept reflected in the vertical exterior walls clustered around the sauna room. A spiraling path leads upward to a rooftop relaxation space, mirroring the building's form. The sauna entrance is at GL+250, the cold plunge deck at GL+1000, and the rooftop at GL+3250, so the transition from sauna to cold plunge to open air follows a vertical flow. Viewing the forest at treetop height allows one to share in its growth rhythm.
Dimensions & Packaging: The irregular plan was chosen to allow the passage and expansion of the line of sight and to adjust the degree of intimacy, which was rationally solved by the 150mm CLT floor slab. The elimination of beams has eliminated non-perpendicular joints in the structure, contributing to labor savings in site work. The rational walls of the scale module are discretely assembled and the CLT slab connects them. This structural form itself can be described as a sociopetal structure.
Production Technology: An irregular polygonal floor plan guides sightlines, creating varied scenic views. Research shows conversations are twice as frequent at 90 degrees versus side-by-side. Here, strangers sit together, so we chose obtuse-angled benches to balance interaction and privacy, encouraging conversation without intrusion. Varied seating allows for different levels of interaction, while the overall arrangement around a fire fosters a shared experience.
Inspiration: In a sauna, strangers sit nearly naked in close proximity, creating potential intimacy. Yet in Japan, public saunas haven’t fostered this sense of community. By aligning with Japan’s unique sense of closeness, we aim to create a sociopetal space, encouraging shared understanding without forced intimacy. “Non-intrusive” walls balance connection and separation; their verticality resonates with the forest, while their spacing draws nature in and modulates closeness among neighbors.

Read the Press Release