Cultural aspects of sauna and SPA architecture in the city – examples of design and execution

SPA stands for sanus per aquam which in Latin means

health through water. SPAs are supposed to provide the

atmosphere of peace and relaxation and the activities con-

nected with water are to positively affect the human body

and mind [6, pp. 66–71]. The term SPA is becoming more

and more popular in everyday life. At present SPAs are

DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK VSHFL¿F DFWLYLWLHV PDVVDJHV ELRORJLFDO

regeneration in its broad sense, baths, etc.) as well as prod-

ucts and spaces that are connected with water treatment

DQGVSHFLDOULWXDOV63$VDUHDOVRUHÀHFWHGLQWKHDUFKLWHF-

ture of such buildings as thermae, baths, saunas and other

buildings that are more and more common also in the city

space.

The origin of SPAs can be traced back to hot baths that

were present in Asia and in time they were adapted in Eu-

rope. Still in the 7

–5

centuries B.C. there were cases

RIEXLOGLQJERQ¿UHVXVHGDOVRIRUEDWKVPDLQO\E\6ODYLF

tribes as well as in Syria, Greece, and Egypt) [4, pp. 6–7].

7KHDQFLHQW5RPDQEDWKVFDQEHFRQVLGHUHGWKH¿UVW

SPA spaces. The oldest baths known as thermae were dis-

covered at Pompeii and they date back to the 2

century

B.C. [5]. The Baths of Caracalla from the 3

century can

be considered some of the biggest. The most important

elements of the functional and spatial program of the an-

cient baths include apodyterium URRP IRU XQGUHVVLQJ

tepidarium URRP IRU ZDUP EDWK caldarium URRP IRU

hot bath), frigidarium FROGZDWHUEDWKpalestraRXWVLGH

space for exercises). Baths were important buildings in

the functional and spatial layout of ancient cities – located

in the neighborhood of other important facilities so they

FRXOGEHRIWHQXVHG7KHJUHDWHVWDQGWKHPRVWPDJQL¿FHQW

of them could occupy from several to more than a dozen

KHFWDUHV HJ WKH %DWKV RI &DUDFDOOD ±  KHFWDUHV DQG

they housed libraries or gyms and they were big enough

to provide room for a few hundred or even a few thou-

sand people at the same time. The interior layout of the

Roman baths should be considered highly characteristic.

%HJLQQLQJIURP WKH EDWKV RI7LWXV D GRXEOHV\PPHWUL-

cal) layout of the rooms with frigidarium in its center and

the other smaller rooms around it was popular. The frigi-

darium itself and the spaces around it was very impres-

sive, monumental, tall and vaulted often with apses around

it, and the whole structure provided effective perspective

YLHZV>@)LJ

Later baths were public and few private Turkish baths

hamam) or Arab baths popular in Islamic countries. The

Barbara Uherek-Bradecka*, Tomasz Bradecki*

Cultural aspects of sauna and SPA architecture in the city

– examples of design and execution

Introduction

)DFXOW\RI$UFKLWHFWXUH6LOHVLDQ8QLYHUVLW\RI7HFKQRORJ\

)LJ7KH%DWKVRI&DUDFDOODLQ5RPH±$QDWWHPSW

DWUHFRQVWUXFWLRQOHIWDQGÀRRUSODQULJKW6RXUFH>@

KDQGVNHWFKHVE\7%UDGHFNL%8KHUHN%UDGHFND

,O7HUP\.DUDNDOOLZ5]\PLH±UQH3UyEDUHNRQVWUXNFML

SROHZHMRUD]G\VSR]\FMDSU]HVWU]HQQDU]XWXSRSUDZHMħUyGáR>@

V]NLFHRGUĊF]QH7%UDGHFNL%8KHUHN%UDGHFND

2012

No. 2(32)

DOI: 10.5277/arc120215

 %DUEDUD8KHUHN%UDGHFND7RPDV]%UDGHFNL

greatest of them included numerous baths constructed later

during the Ottoman Empire also in the conquered territo-

ULHVWKHPRVWIDPRXVLQFOXGHWKH7XUNLVKEDWK5XGDVLQ

Budapest from the 16

FHQWXU\7KH¿UVWPHQWLRQVRIWKH

EDWKVLQ(XURSHFRPHIURPWKHWXUQRIWKH

and 11

cen-

WXULHVWKH\ZHUHWKHQVPDOOZRRGHQVWUXFWXUHVZKHUHDSDUW

from the vestibule there was the main room with a stove

on which water was poured to get a lot of steam [4, pp.

6–7], [2]. Later European baths were in general privately

owned by the rulers; they were also built in monasteries,

DQGSXEOLFEDWKVZHUHPRUHUDUH>SS±@

Contemporary Sauna Structures

The evident growth in interest in hot baths could be

REVHUYHGLQWKH

century, mainly due to the more popu-

lar knowledge of their therapeutic properties. The termi-

QRORJ\FRQQHFWHGZLWKEDWKLQJIDFLOLWLHVLVZRUWKQRWLQJ

originally thermae meant a complex of buildings used for

hot baths, entertainment, and relaxation; baths were often

parts of thermae – rooms used for taking hot baths in wa-

ter, water vapor or air. Sauna, on the other hand, is a more

SRSXODUWHUPWRGD\PHDQLQJDVSHFLDONLQGRIEDWKDFFWR

WKHSRSXODU(QF\FORSHGLDLWLVD)LQQLVKEDWK6RLWFDQ

be claimed that the terms sauna and bath can be used in-

WHUFKDQJHDEO\LQVRPHVLWXDWLRQVEHFDXVHWKHLUIXQFWLRQV

are very similar, whereas at present we can talk about an

evident disappearance of bathing for hygienic purposes

and that is why the term sauna is more popular. At present

)LQODQGLVFRQVLGHUHGWREHWKHSODFHRIRULJLQRIVDXQDV

– places designed for hot baths. Saunas are very popular

WKHUHZKLFKLVUHÀHFWHGLQWKHLUQXPHURXVGHVLJQVLQSXEOLF

buildings and private apartments. The architecture of sau-

na structures is usually traditional – they are made of wood

WRDVVHSDUDWHEXLOGLQJVRUWREH¿WWHGLQVLGHRWKHUEXLOG-

ings. A typical functional and spatial design would include

a vestibule to undress and a sauna room with benches and

a stove. In most cases the space in front of a sauna is used

IRUFRROLQJERWKLQWKHSDVWDQGDWSUHVHQWDEXFNHWZLWK

cold water, a river, lake or snow and ice can serve the cool-

ing function.

At present one can notice a broad diversity and special-

ization of spaces designed to serve the functions connected

with the SPA. Some of them are dedicated exclusively for

WKHUDSHXWLFSUDFWLFHVPDVVDJHVWKHUDS\YDULRXVNLQGVRI

special baths. Others include sauna structures designed for

rituals connected with building bodily strength in saunas.

The rest of the article discusses the huge sauna facilities.

At present one can notice the process of specialization of

saunas due to different temperatures, air humidity or acces-

VRULHVVXFKDVVFHQWVRUOLJKW7KHPRVWSRSXODULQFOXGH

± )LQQLVK VDXQDV RIWHQ GHVFULEHG DV GU\ VDXQDV ±

&DQGKXPLGLW\XSWR

± ZHWVDXQDVWHPSHUDWXUH±&DQGKXPLGLW\XSWR



± VPRNH VDXQDV WHPSHUDWXUH ± & DQG KXPLGLW\

±

± DURPDWLF VDXQDV WHPSHUDWXUH ± & KXPLGLW\

±IUDJUDQWRLOVDUHSRXUHGRQKRWURFNV

± VDOWVDXQDVVDXQDVZLWKHOHPHQWVPDGHRIVDOWEORFNV

that create a sea and salty microclimate),

± VDXQDVZLWKFRORUWKHUDS\VDXQDVHTXLSSHGZLWKVSH-

cial lamps emitting light in six colors of the prism, pro-

viding a unique ambiance as well as healing treatment

– bioenergetic),

± EUHDG RYHQ VDXQDV VDXQDV ZLWK EUHDG RYHQV ZKHUH

bread is baked and eaten and where the aroma is also

used as an element of sauna ritual – these saunas are

in a sense an analogy to the historical bread ovens that

were used as saunas when there was no more bread).

$OO WKRVH GH¿QLWLRQV DQG SDUDPHWHUV DUH SDUWO\ FRQYHQ-

tional; at present experiments are done with different

sauna types and attractions as well as different auxil-

iary functions, including cooling spaces – necessary to

XVHULJKWDIWHUOHDYLQJWKHVDXQDFROGVKRZHUVEXFN-

ets with cold water, cold water swimming pools, caves

with ice rub as well as snow and ice caves) and lounges

VSDFHVIRUUHVWDIWHUVDXQDVHVVLRQV

The most famous sauna structures in Europe include

Mediterana in Bergisch Gladbach in Germany with

a very extensive complex of more than a dozen saunas,

baths and numerous other auxiliary spaces dedicated

WR WKHP 7KH FRPSOH[ KDV HJ DURPDWLF VDOW )LQQLVK

Moorish and other saunas – all interiors are decorated

ZLWKDUFKLWHFWXUDOPRWLIVDOOXGLQJWRVSHFL¿FWKHPHV$Q-

other example of a typical sauna complex is Bad Ben-

theim in Germany with seven external thematic saunas

KRW)LQQLVKHXFDO\SWXVKHUEDODQGPDQ\RWKHUDX[LOLD-

U\IXQFWLRQVVXFKDVWHFDOGDULXPYDSRULXPKRWURRPV

as well as a complex of recreational swimming pools and

a group of SPA and wellness amenities. Therme Erding,

one of the largest thermal bath complexes in Europe,

ZLWKLWVWKHPDWLFVDXQDVLVMXVWDSDUWRIDKXJHIXQF-

tional program including swimming pools, slides, sports

and recreation areas.

Rarely do the sauna structures provide only one func-

tion – most often this is a supplementary function of

a greater SPA complex connected with swimming pools

XVXDOO\DZDWHUSDUNRUVRPHRWKHUUHFUHDWLRQFRPSOH[

$VLJQL¿FDQWJURZWKLQWKHQXPEHURISXEOLFO\DFFHVVLEOH

VDXQDVLQ3RODQGEHJDQLQWKHSHULRGDIWHUWKHVDQGLW

has continued until now. It is also worth noting that most

RI WKHP RSHUDWH LQ XUEDQL]HG DUHDV LQ DOUHDG\ H[LVWLQJ

buildings) or near them.

The biggest sauna complexes that have been opened so

IDULQ3RODQGLQFOXGHWKHIROORZLQJ

± FRPSOH[RIVDXQDVLQ:URFáDZ:DWHU3DUN

± FRPSOH[RIVDXQDVLQµ%DQ\D¶LQ%LDáND7DWU]DĔVND

± FRPSOH[RIVDXQDVLQµ7HUP\0DOWDĔVNLH¶LQ3R]QDĔ

± VDXQDFRPSOH[µ6DWXUQ¶V3DODFH¶LQ&]HODGĨ

± VDXQDFRPSOH[LQZDWHUSDUN1HPRLQ'ąEURZD*yU-

nicza.

The criteria of the selection included the existence of

al least four saunas of different types and auxiliary spaces

such as relaxation rooms, extensive cooling sections, baths

DVZHOODVVFDOHLHWKHVL]HRIVSHFL¿FVDXQDVLQUHVSHFWRI

Cultural aspects of sauna and SPA architecture in the city – examples of design and execution 91

volume or area. Table 1 presents the characteristic features

of the buildings.

It can be claimed on the basis of collected data

, the

most important of which are presented in the Table, that

the number of publicly accessible saunas, including espe-

cially those next to large water recreation centers has been

growing over the last years. However, only in some cases

do the sauna spaces provide the possibility of rituals for

many participants; most of them rather complement the

offer of the main building. Apart from numerous interior

saunas and baths which can be considered contemporary

reinterpretation of ancient thermae, external saunas are be-

coming more and more popular.

Table 1. Characteristic features of selected sauna complexes; on the basis of information

SXEOLVKHGE\WKHIDFLOLWLHVHGE\7%UDGHFNL%8KHUHN%UDGHFND

7DE&KDUDNWHU\VW\NDZ\EUDQ\FKNRPSOHNVyZVDXQRZ\FKQDSRGVWDZLHLQIRUPDFML

SXEOLNRZDQ\FKSU]H]Z\EUDQHRĞURGNLRSUDF7%UDGHFNL%8KHUHN%UDGHFND

Location Year

establishment

Number

saunas,

baths

and

other

Number

baths

and

other

Number

indoor

saunas

Number

outdoor

saunas

Rituals

for

many

participants

Space

for SPA

practices

Separate space

for consumption

next to saunas

Other function

:URFáDZ:DWHU

3DUN:URFáDZ

 5 2 2 1 + + + water recreation

complex

$TXD3DUNµ)DOD¶

àyGĨ

 5 4 1 - + - water recreation

complex

Terma Bania,

%LDáND7DWU]DĔVND

6 2 2+1 1 - + - water recreation

complex

Water Park,

.UDNyZ

4 1 3  - - - water recreation

complex

7HUP\0DOWDĔVNLH

3R]QDĔ

 11 5 4 2 + + - geothermal

recreation complex

Saturn’s Palace,

&]HODGĨ

 9 5 3 1 + + + hotel, conference

center

Water Park Nemo,

'ąEURZD*yUQLF]D

 1 1 4 1 + - - water recreation

complex

Examples of Original Sauna Designs

External saunas for many users, which so far have not

EHFRPHVRSRSXODULQ3RODQGWKHUHDUHRQO\DIHZVXFK

designs), can be considered rather important in the func-

tional and space program of sauna complexes. The article

presents the original design of an external complex of

WKHPDWLFVDXQDVDW:URFáDZ:DWHU3DUNZKLFKFRPSOH-

ments the offer of the existing saunarium. The main as-

sumption of the design was the creation of an original

complex of saunas with varied size and themes, and so

WKHSURMHFWIHDWXUHVDPXOWLPHGLDVDXQDZLWKDQDXGLR

YLVXDOV\VWHPLQWHJUDWHGZLWKLQWHULRUOLJKWLQJDIRUPRI

FRORU WKHUDS\DVDOWJUDGXDWLRQ WRZHU ZLWK VDOWZDWHU

running down on the walls for a better and more health-

IXOPLFURFOLPDWHDVDXQDIRUDVPDQ\DVWRSHRSOH

and a bread stove sauna and a sauna partly submerged

in the ground, similarly to the original Russian sauna so

called banya.) The whole complex shall be located in

WKHH[LVWLQJJDUGHQLQWKHVDXQDVHFWLRQDW:URFáDZ:D-

ter Park with a separate entrance and exit to any of the

attractions. The design also includes a large relaxation

ORXQJHZLWKD¿UHSODFHDQGDFRQVXPSWLRQDUHD$OOVDX-

QDVVKDOOEHORFDWHGLQRQHJURXQGÀRRUEXLOGLQJPDGHRI

wood so that it would blend into the existing garden and

WKH)LQQLVKVDXQD)LJ

$WSUHVHQWWKHFRPSOH[ RI7HUP\5]\PVNLH5RPDQ

7KHUPDHDWWKH6DWXUQ¶V3DODFHLQ&]HODGĨLVRQHRIWKH

most famous buildings dedicated exclusively to SPA in

Poland. The main motif of the style of the complex is

worth noting; it is supposed to resemble the ancient ther-

mae in Pompeii. The saunas are located in the basements

of the converted Saturn’s palace from the beginning of the



century that once housed the headquarters of Saturn

FRDO PLQH )LJ ,W LV RQHRI IHZ H[DPSOHVRI GHVLJQ

where the recreation function does not dominate – the SPA

FRPSOH[ LQ &]HODGĨ FRPSOHPHQWV WKH KRWHO DQG FRQIHU-

ence functions that are located in the remaining part of the

building. The functional program offers a number of sau-

nas and baths which allude with their themes to antiquity,

which was expressed primarily in the interior decorations

)LJ7KHFRPSOH[LQFOXGHVDODUJHH[WHUQDOVDXQDFD

îP7KHPDLQREMHFWLYHRIWKHSURMHFWZDVWRGHVLJQ

a sauna for a number of users with benches on three levels

for as many as 49 people sitting around the center for the

person conducting the ceremony.

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included in the table which affect the architecture of the complex) and

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Cultural aspects of sauna and SPA architecture in the city – examples of design and execution 93

The architecture of sauna complexes and consequently

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pect connected with sauna structures. The historical Ro-

man baths located in the centers of large cities had two

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the real needs of people in respect of hygiene and recrea-

tion as well as the social function – the rituals which were

performed there and the space provided opportunities for

meetings and discussions. The typical contemporary spe-

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such group sauna rituals as pouring fragrant oils on hot

stones, fanning the users with hot air or other attractions

are more and more popular. Silence is recommended dur-

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entrance, 2 – Apodyterion men’s dressing rooms, toilet, shower, 3 – Apodyterion women’s dressing rooms, toilet, shower, 4 – nudist beach,

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Cultural and Spatial Aspects of Sauna Structures

94 %DUEDUD8KHUHN%UDGHFND7RPDV]%UDGHFNL

ing sauna sessions, the users are, however, willing to ‘re-

ceive’ information and not to ‘transmit’ it, which is similar

during cultural events. Such group sauna rituals require

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necessary to design a building that can accommodate the

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access to the center with a stove and a place for the person

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ers, buckets of cold water, cold water swimming pools, ice

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on the stones in saunas or thematic evenings with con-

sumption. Such events attract as many as several dozen of

people, which also creates opportunities for interpersonal

contacts. A separate space for consumption in sauna sec-

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plexes offer it. That function enables the participants to

stay longer in the SPA and sauna facilities, which can in-

crease the culture forming role of the whole complexes.

The contemporary sauna architecture is contemporary

only in some cases; usually it reinterprets or sometimes im-

itates ancient patterns. Despite imitating the classical aes-

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in ancient times the baths took a lot of space and were

monumental and their individual functions were directly

connected with one another, whereas at present those func-

tions are separate. When comparing the scale of the whole

complexes it can be claimed that contemporary Aquaparks

correspond to ancient thermae, however, the main func-

tion of baths was assumed by sauna, SPA, and wellness

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the biggest contemporary complexes can take as many as

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est space is occupied by swimming pools and other water

attractions, whereas the other spaces such as saunas have

become cozy and much smaller. In some cases the space

development has also changed; originally it was a large,

monumental building with its facilities inside, whereas at

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it can operate as small, separate facilities located outside.

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lective behaviors typical of cultural events – the water rec-

reation spaces are in some cases so big that they can be

used as venues for cultural events – examples can include

WKHSHUIRUPDQFHRIWKH3XSSHW7KHDWHULQ:URFáDZ:DWHU

3DUNµ6KDUNVLQWKH6ZLPPLQJ3RRO¶RUFRQFHUWVDQGPX-

VLFSHUIRUPDQFHVLQ7KHUPH(UGLQJWKHVZLPPLQJSRRO

provided space for the audience). The growing number of

such cultural events taking place in this type of buildings

in a way forces their location. After leaving their locations,

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century,

sauna structures go back to the urban space and become

important culture forming elements more and more often

used by the inhabitants of big cities.

The contemporary expectations of the SPA and sauna

spaces are bigger and bigger, and consequently there is

a need to create new buildings that will meet those ex-

SHFWDWLRQV2QHFDQWDONDERXWDWUHQGHYLGHQWHVSHFLDOO\

among people living in large agglomerations) to often use

saunas with many other people at the same time, which

FDXVHVVSHFL¿FEHKDYLRUFXOWXUHLQVDXQDVDQGXQGRXEW-

edly affects the space development in those buildings. The

contemporary architecture of sauna structures, especially

those located in the cities or around them, obviously dem-

onstrates some cultural aspects. The question remains if

SPA is and will be only a fad or will it become a timeless

function permanently connected with the life of city dwell-

ers with its own contemporary patterns of both human be-

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also in architecture.

Translated by

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[2] Cieniawa T., 6DXQD Z GRPX L ]DNáDG]LH SUDF\, IWZZ Warszawa



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.ZDUWDOQLN=ZLą]NX6DXQRZHJR´1RSS±

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SROVNL.ZDUWDOQLN=ZLą]NX6DXQRZHJR´1RSS±

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G\:DUV]DZD

[6] Widera B., Architektura obiektów SPA³$UFKLYROWD´, 1R

pp. 66–71.

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Cultural aspects of sauna and SPA architecture in the city – examples of design and execution

Barbara Uherek-Bradecka, Tomasz Bradecki

doi:10.5277/arc120215

Abstract