Ondsauna Isonto by Taro Shimokawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ezokwakha, Izakhiwo Nezinhlaka Competition Category.

IbhulonziEzokwakha· 2025

Ondsauna Isonto

by Taro Shimokawa

Client: Ondpark

Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ezokwakha Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Ondsauna Isonto

I-Ondsauna yisakhiwo sesonto esibekwe ngaphakathi ehlathini. Izindonga eziqondile ezingaphandle zibuthene zizungeza igumbi lesonto, zilingane nokukhula phezulu kwezihlahla. Umzila osontayo uholela endaweni yokuphumula esiphahleni. Umnyango umi ku-250 millimeters ngaphezu komhlaba, ideki lokugxumela emanzini abandayo likhona ku-1000 millimeters futhi isiphahla sikhona ku-3250 millimeters, ngakho ukunyakaza kusuka esontweni kuya kokugxumela emanzini abandayo kuya emoyeni ovulekile kuqondile phezulu. Uhlelo olungezinhlangothi eziyisipolotshi ezingalingani kanye nemibhede yokuhlala enama-engeli angalingani ayiqondisa imibono futhi ivumela izivakashi ukuthi zikhethe izinga labo lokuxhumana.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award

Ondsauna Isonto iwinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo ephawulekayo eyehlukaniswa ukudala, ubuhlakani nobukhali bengqondo. Abawinile beBhulonzi yimisebenzi enobuchule obukhulu nedala ngokumangalisayo eqinisekisa isipiliyoni esibanzi, umcabango nobuhlakani babaklami babo. Ondsauna Isonto ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo, enobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu ebuciko, esayensi, ekuklameni nasebuchwepheshe futhi uhamba phambili ngenxa yokunaka kwawo imininingwane. Ondsauna Isonto iyanelisa izidingo ngokumangalisayo, ithinta izifiso, iheha imizwa futhi ikhanga ukufuna ukwazi.

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