US architects launch floating sauna to promote wellness in Seattle
by Kim Megson | 12 Nov 2015
Seattle-based architects goCstudio have built and launched a floating sauna in Seattle, providing locals with a new perspective of their waterfront city.
The designers wanted to create a tranquil refuge which could tour Seattle’s many lakes. Designs were drawn up in January 2014 and a successful Kickstarter campaign raised over US$40,000 to keep the project afloat. Construction was completed in Q3 this year, and the vessel – named the wa_sauna – has now been tested and registered to sail.
The sauna is transported from lake to lake by its operators and is propelled through the water by an electric trolling motor. Heat is provided by a wood burning stove.
Waterside spas and saunas are currently all the rage. Architect Anne Holtrop has designed an artificial Floating Gardens Spa to be located on a lake in Amsterdam, while German studio Raumlabor have built a 20-seater sauna out of recycled materials in Gothenburg harbour.
Meanwhile, Italian designer Michele Puzzolante has unveiled a solar-powered floating resort, which will contain a five-star, 54-bedroom luxury hotel, and Serbia-based Salt & Water have embraced a similar concepton a smaller-scale.
The sauna is propelled by a motor and heated by a wood-burning stove Credit: goCstudio
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FEATURE: Spa – Floating away
Seattle-based architects goCstudio have built and launched a floating sauna in Seattle, providing locals with a new perspective of their waterfront city. The designers wanted to create a tranquil refuge which could tour Seattle’s many lakes. Designs were drawn up in January 2014 and a successful Kickstarter campaign raised over US$40,000 to keep the project afloat. Construction was completed in Q3 this year, and the vessel – named the wa_sauna
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by Megan Whitby | 22 Mar 2024
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by Megan Whitby | 19 Jan 2024
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by Liz Terry | 11 Jan 2024
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Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
by Megan Whitby | 05 Jan 2024
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Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
by Kath Hudson | 04 Jan 2024
Janu, the new hotel brand from luxury operator Aman, is gearing up to launch its first location this March in Tokyo. The property will feature one of the city's largest gyms. Part of a 4,000sq m state-of-the-art wellness centre, the 340sq m gym will feature five group exercise studios for spinning, aerial yoga, golf simulation, functional training, Pilates and high-impact circuit training, as well as the first boxing ring in
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
by Megan Whitby | 03 Jan 2024
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by Kath Hudson | 29 Dec 2023
Universal Studios is assessing the feasibility of opening its first European resort in the UK, following the purchase of a former brickworks in Bedfordshire. The theme park operator has confirmed it’s in the “very early stages of exploring the possibility of a potential park and resort experience in Bedford.” Parent company, Comcast Corporation has purchased the 480-acre site, which previously had planning permission for 1,000 homes. Universal Destinations and Experiences
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The King of Bhutan has announced plans for a new economic hub immersed in nature and designed by architecture firms Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Arup, and Cistri. Referred to as the Mindfulness City, the masterplan for the future Gelephu Special Administration Region (SAR) is informed by Bhutanese culture and its strong spiritual heritage, as well as the country's Gross National Happiness (GNH)* index. The goal is for the SAR to
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by Kath Hudson | 19 Dec 2023
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by Kath Hudson | 18 Dec 2023
KSL-owned Third Space has unveiled its latest club in Wimbledon, south-west London. The development marks the first of many forays into residential locations for the operator, following the recent securing of a loan facility of £88.5m. This is the ninth club from the premium fitness operator which has four further openings slated for residential areas of London in the next two years: Battersea, Clapham Junction and Wood Wharf in 2024
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