Ondsauna Sauna by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award in Dearadh Ailtireachta, Foirgníochta agus Struchtúir Competition Category.

Cré-umhaAiltireacht· 2025

Ondsauna Sauna

by Taro Shimokawa

Client: Ondpark

Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award Winner in Ailtireacht Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Ondsauna Sauna

Is foirgneamh sabhna é Ondsauna atá suite laistigh d'fhoraois. Tá na ballaí seachtracha ingearacha bailithe timpeall ar sheomra an tsabhna, ag macalla fhás aníos na gcrann. Treoraíonn cosán bíseach chuig spás suaimhnis ar an díon. Suíonn an bealach isteach 250 milliméadar os cionn leibhéal na talún, tá deic an tumtha fuair ag 1000 milliméadar agus an díon ag 3250 milliméadar, ionas go bhfuil an ghluaiseacht ón sabhna go dtí an tumtha fuar go dtí an t-aer oscailte ingearach. Treoraíonn plean iolghonach neamhrialta agus binsí dronuilleogacha maolaithe línte radhairc agus ligeann siad do chuairteoirí a leibhéal rannpháirtíochta féin a roghnú.

The Recognition

About the Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award

Bhuaigh an dearadh Ondsauna Sauna Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award, aitheantas an-ghradamach a bhronntar ar dhearaí sármhaithe a mbíonn cruthaitheacht, aireagacht agus géarchúis mar shaintréithe acu. Is déantúsáin ghlic agus chruthaitheacha go suntasach iad buaiteoirí Cré-umha a dhearbhaíonn taithí fhairsing, samhlaíocht agus acmhainneacht a ndearthóirí. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an dearadh Ondsauna Sauna ina rud a bhfuil an-mheas air, a n-ardaítear agus a ghráitear, atá thar a bheith gairmiúil agus nuálach. Ionchorpraíonn an dearadh seo a bhuaigh Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award na cleachtais is fearr san ealaín, san eolaíocht, sa dearadh agus sa teicneolaíocht, agus tá sé sármhaith as a aird ar mhionsonraí. Sásaíonn an dearadh Ondsauna Sauna riachtanais go hálainn, bainíonn sé le mianta, cuireann sé draíocht ar mhothúcháin agus tarraingíonn sé fiosracht.

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