Ondsauna Sauna by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award na Bronse in Disenyo ng Arkitektura, Gusali at Estruktura Competition Category.

BronseArkitektura· 2025

Ondsauna Sauna

by Taro Shimokawa

Client: Ondpark

A' Design Award na Bronse Winner in Arkitektura Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ondsauna Sauna

Ang Ondsauna ay isang gusaling sauna na nakatayo sa loob ng isang gubat. Ang mga patayong panlabas na dingding ay nagkukumpol-kumpol sa palibot ng silid ng sauna, na sumasalamin sa pataas na paglaki ng mga puno. Isang paikot-ikot na daan ang patungo sa isang lugar ng pagpapahinga sa bubungan. Ang pasukan ay nasa 250 milimetro mula sa lupa, ang plunge deck na malamig ay nasa 1000 milimetro, at ang bubungan ay nasa 3250 milimetro, kaya ang paggalaw mula sa sauna patungo sa malamig na plunge hanggang sa bukas na himpapawid ay patayo. Ang isang hindi regular na poligonal na plano at mga bench na may obtuse na anggulo ang gumagabay sa mga linya ng tanawin at nagbibigay-daan sa mga bisita na piliin ang kanilang antas ng interaksyon.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award na Bronse

Ang Ondsauna Sauna ay nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Bronse, isang lubhang prestihiyosong pagkilalang iginagawad sa mga natatanging disenyong nakikilala sa pagkamalikhain, katalinuhan at talas ng isip. Ang mga nagwagi ng Bronse ay mga likhang lubhang mahusay at kapansin-pansing malikhain na nagpapatunay sa malawak na karanasan, imahinasyon at pagkamaparaan ng kanilang mga tagapagdisenyo. Inaasahang ang Ondsauna Sauna ay isang lubos na pinahahalagahan, hinahangaan at minamahal na bagay na kapansin-pansing propesyonal at makabago. Ang disenyong ito na nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Bronse ay nagsasama ng pinakamahuhusay na kasanayan sa sining, agham, disenyo at teknolohiya, at mahusay dahil sa pansin nito sa detalye. Ang Ondsauna Sauna ay kahanga-hangang tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan, humahaplos sa mga hangarin, bumibighani sa damdamin at umaakit sa pag-uusisa.

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