Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli by Taro Shimokawa

Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse in Calchihualiztli, Calmanaliztli ihuan Tlatecpanaliztli Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.

BronseCalchihualiztli· 2025

Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli

by Taro Shimokawa

Client: Ondpark

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse Winner in Calchihualiztli Category

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The Design

About Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli

Ondsauna se calli temazcalli tlaliuhtok itlan cuauhtla. In tepamitl melactic mochichiuh nawyantli itech temazcalli calnacayotl, quinextia in ohtli ilhuicac campa cuahuitl mixiwi. Se ohtli malacachtic quiwica tlacatl hasta icpac calli, campa ihuan mocehuia. In calixatl ca 250 milimetro ipan tlalli, in atl itztik campa aaltilo ca 1000 milimetro, ihuan icpac calli ca 3250 milimetro; ic, in nemiliztli tlein pehua itech temazcalli, quisa itech atl itztik, ihuan tlami itech ehecayotl, melactic tlecoa. In tlamantli xitlacecemeltic ica miac ixquichtin tepan ihuan sietlaltok yeyecoloni quiixnextia campa tlachiaz ihuan quicahua imowanti ma quixtlapoyanican quenin monechicozque.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse

Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in cualli tlachihualli in motenehua ipampa yancuic tlamantli, tlamatiliztli ihuan ixtlamatiliztli. In quicuicah Bronse ca tlachihualli in quipia toltecayotl ihuan quinextia in cenca miac nemiliztli ihuan tlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli ca tlazohtli tlamantli, mahuiztic ihuan cualli. Ni dizayno in quicuic Bronse quipia cualli toltecayotl ihuan quitta in tlen tepiton. Ondsauna Temaltemazcalli quipaquiltia in tlacah ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia in intlanequiliz.

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