Ondsauna वाष्पस्नानगृहम् by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारः in स्थापत्य, भवन एवं संरचना अभिकल्पना Competition Category.
कांस्यम्स्थापत्यम्· 2025
Ondsauna वाष्पस्नानगृहम्
Client: Ondpark
A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारः Winner in स्थापत्यम् Category
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About Ondsauna वाष्पस्नानगृहम्
ओण्ड्सौना इति वनान्तः स्थापितं वाष्पस्नानगृहम् अस्ति। ऊर्ध्वाधराः बाह्यभित्तयः वाष्पस्नानकक्षस्य परितः समूहिताः सन्ति, वृक्षाणाम् ऊर्ध्वगमनं प्रतिध्वनयन्त्यः। कुण्डलाकारः मार्गः छादोपरि विश्रामस्थानं प्रति नयति। प्रवेशद्वारं भूमितः २५० मिलिमीटरमितम् उन्नतं वर्तते, शीतजलमज्जनवेदिका १००० मिलिमीटरमितं तथा छादोपरिस्थानं ३२५० मिलिमीटरमितम्, येन वाष्पस्नानात् शीतजलमज्जनं प्रति ततः मुक्ताकाशं प्रति गमनं ऊर्ध्वाधररूपेण भवति। अनियमितः बहुभुजाकारः योजनाक्रमः तथा विस्तृतकोणयुक्ताः आसनपट्टिकाः दृक्पथान् निर्दिशन्ति, आगन्तृभ्यः स्वस्य सम्पर्कस्तरं चयनीयुं अवकाशं ददति।
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारः
Ondsauna वाष्पस्नानगृहम् A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारस्य विजेता अस्ति; अयम् उच्चप्रतिष्ठितः सम्मानः सृजनशीलतया उद्भावनकौशलेन तीक्ष्णप्रज्ञया च विशिष्टेभ्य उत्कृष्टेभ्योऽभिकल्पेभ्यो दीयते। कांस्यविजेतारः प्रचुरकौशलयुक्ता उल्लेखनीयतया सृजनशीलाश्च शिल्पकृतयः सन्ति, याः स्वाभिकल्पकानां विपुलम् अनुभवं कल्पनाशक्तिं साधनसम्पन्नतां च प्रमाणयन्ति। Ondsauna वाष्पस्नानगृहम् अत्यन्तं मूल्यवान् प्रशंसितः प्रियश्च पदार्थः, उल्लेखनीयतया व्यावसायिको नवोन्मेषयुक्तश्च भविष्यतीति प्रत्याशा क्रियते। A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारं जितवद् एतद् अभिकल्पकार्यं कलाविज्ञानाभिकल्पप्रौद्योगिकीनां श्रेष्ठतमाः पद्धतीः समावेशयति सूक्ष्मांशेषु ध्यानाच्च उत्कृष्टम् अस्ति। Ondsauna वाष्पस्नानगृहम् अस्माकम् आवश्यकताः सुन्दरं पूरयति, कामनाः स्पृशति, भावान् मोहयति, जिज्ञासां चाकर्षयति।
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.
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