Ondsauna Sauna by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Duais Umha A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Ailtireachd, Togalaichean agus Structaran Competition Category.

UmhaAiltireachd· 2025

Ondsauna Sauna

by Taro Shimokawa

Client: Ondpark

Duais Umha A' Design Award Winner in Ailtireachd Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Ondsauna Sauna

Is foirgneamh sabhaill é Ondsauna atá suite laistigh d'fhoraois. Tá ballaí seachtracha ingearacha braisithe timpeall an tseomra sabhaill, ag macallú fás aníos na gcrann. Treoraíonn cosán bíseach chuig spás suaimhnis ar an díon. Suíonn an bealach isteach 250 milimeadar os cionn leibhéal na talún, tá deic an tumtha fhuair ag 1000 milimeadar agus an díon ag 3250 milimeadar, sa chaoi go bhfuil an ghluaiseacht ón sabhall go dtí an tumadh fuar go dtí an t-aer oscailte ingearach. Treoraíonn plean iolgánach neamhrialta agus binsí dronuilleacha maolaithe línte radhairc agus ligeann siad do chuairteoirí a leibhéal rannpháirtíochta féin a roghnú.

The Recognition

About the Duais Umha A' Design Award

Tha Ondsauna Sauna air Duais Umha A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh gu math urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean sònraichte a tha air an comharrachadh le cruthachalachd, innleachd agus geurchuis. Tha buannaichean Umha nan obraichean gu math sgileil agus gu sònraichte cruthachail a dhearbhas eòlas farsaing, mac-meanmna agus tapachd an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Ondsauna Sauna na nì air a bheil mòran meas, ion-mholta agus gràdhach, a tha gu sònraichte proifeiseanta agus ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Umha A' Design Award a' cur nan cleachdaidhean as fheàrr ann an ealain, saidheans, dealbhadh agus teicneolas an gnìomh, agus tha e sàr-mhath airson an aire do mhion-fhiosrachadh. Bidh Ondsauna Sauna a' sàsachadh fheumalachdan gu h-iongantach, a' suathadh ri miannan, a' tàladh faireachdainnean agus a' togail fiosrachd.

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