A Floating Sauna on Seattle’s Lake Union

Saunas are the quintessential relaxation space, but this floating station takes things one step further in a unique structure that uses water in different ways. It gracefully floats on the surface of the Lake Union, uses a wooden stove to produce steam, and provides a convenient diving platform. The wa_sauna is made by goCstudio, an architecture and design studio founded in 2012 and based in Seattle. It combines various features in one compact unit that aims to offer more than just a peaceful isolated space away from the busy city life.

Inside the floating 240 square foot sauna there’s plenty of room for up to six people. The wood burning stove heats the interior, while a motor with three 12-volt batteries powers the platform, transforming it into a vessel which can be moved across the lake when needed. A metal ladder frames one of the glass panels and leads to the diving platform at the top, extending from one side of the structure. On a lower deck, the owners and their friends can sunbathe in complete privacy away from the shore. The black and light brown wood surfaces integrate into the landscape perfectly, complementing the expanse of deep blue water and the dark forests and mountains rising in the distance. The wa_sauna uses steam, sun, and water to transform a wooden and metal structure into the ultimate leisure space where one can completely relax in the middle of nature. Photography by Kevin Scott.