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The sauna is finished.

1163 hours.

3 years.

Wow what a journey.

It has received more love than a building should.

I am very proud of it.

It has remarkable character.

It's called The Temple (Of Sweat), and it is a special place in which to honour the holy trinity of sauna.

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The large porthole window beautifully frames the view.

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… and casts wonderful shadows.

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Warm golden tones of the Alder benches sit beautifully next to the chocolate brown Ash cladding, and the rich sand yellow of the micro-cement floor. The interior woodwork is thermo-treated, a chemical free process giving exceptional resilience and stability.

The circular cutout in the front bench allows a sauna master to perform rituals front and centre, reaching all participants easily from the same spot.

I jokingly refer to it ‘The Pulpit’. ;)

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My signature architectural element, the sloping wall, (as seen in nearly every building I have ever made) has finally found its dream application.

It creates a gentle 10 degree angle for the top bench backrest, making it an unbelievably relaxing and comfortable place to sit.

It will feature in every sauna I make from now on.

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The very pretty IKI Maxi stove is from the Finnish godfathers of sauna stoves.

It holds 250 kg of sauna stones, and is teamed up with a bespoke warm air delivery system.

Designed in conversation with Finnish Sauna Master Alex Lembke, a 100mm galvanised duct delivers warm air to behind the stones, helping create some high quality löyly (steam).

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There is a wooden tap in the sauna room, providing fresh cold water to sauna users for drinking, pouring on the stones to create Löyly (steam), and rinsing the floor.

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There is also an inbuilt shower on the rear of the sauna for freshening up after a sweat.

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Next to the changing room there is a small cubby hole for storing logs, kindling etc.

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The changing room is a deep orange colour, with subtle dimmable lighting.

There are 10 heavy duty pegs for clothes and towels, plus ample space for shoes and bags.

And a handy detail: a USB C socket for charging a phone.

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CAPACITY:  10 people.

‍INTERIOR + EXTERIOR LIGHTING THROUGHOUT: Sauna specific LED lighting from SAAS Instruments, Finland.

LÖYLY FRESH AIR STEAM SYSTEM : Designed in conversation with Alex Lembke Finnish Sauna Master.

STRUCTURAL FRAME : UK Douglas Fir throughout. Douglas Fir is durable UK grown softwood that has high durability and strength + a natural resistance to  fungal and insect attack.

FULLY INSULATED with Knauff Rocksilk. Mineral wool with ECOSE plant based binder, removing all reliance on formaldehyde or polyester binders, and PIR products, to maintain human respiratory health over the long term.

ROOF : 360 vented roof design with Zinc grey, folded Aluminium roof.

DRAINING FLOOR with durable, waterproof, sand coloured, Microcement.

ELECTRICS : 240V Mains hook up or SOLAR READY.

CHANGING ROOM with clothes storage + USB phone charging.

IKI MAXI Finnish stove with 250 kg of stones.

In sauna FRESH WATER TAP.

Exterior COLD SHOWER.

INTERIOR CLADDING : Thermo treated English Ash (Dark Chocolate Brown).

BENCHES: Thermo treated Alder - Imported (Honey Brown).

EXTERIOR CLADDING : SW UK Larch. (Will mature to silver grey).

LARGE CIRCULAR PORTHOLE WINDOW: Laminated UK Douglas Fir, handmade in Cornwall.

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The sauna is available to view and purchase now.

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I have shared it first with you, my faithful email journal readers.

Please share it with anyone that you think might be interested.

Over the coming weeks I will start to advertise it via other channels..

It is in my workshop in Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, but can be delivered nationwide.

I am offering prospective buyers a chance to try it out before they buy.

£65,000 + VAT.

Delivery + Installation costs are additional, depending on site requirements and distance.

Although not critical, the building was  designed to have a deck and covered verandah  along the front. This would ground the building beautifully and create an architecturally interesting split level shower area that interacts with the access to the changing room.

The deck and verandah would also increase the opportunity to create some very stylish log storage around the sauna.

I would be excited to discuss this extension to the building with any prospective purchasers.

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Thanks for your precious time

Sam x