SAUNA NO. 1

A prototype for resilient wellness in the Sierra Nevadas.

The Sauna has a classic house-like structure made of weathered metal shingles and a round window in the front, surrounded by tall pine trees and snow-covered mountains in the background.
Close-up of one of the two porthole windows, offering a playful peek outdoors.
The steel, weathered by the seasons, stands out against an evergreen forest of pine trees.
A candle burns in the interior of the Sauna, illuminating Western Red Cedar tongue and groove paneling and a pitch black porthole window.
The triangular window, incased in black powdercoated steel, in the gable maximizes views of the snow-covered mountainside.

Sauna No. 1 reimagines a traditional sauna as resource for individual, community and even environmental health. Built in and sourced from the forests of Plumas County, the project brings together a wood-fired 2-person sauna, tea room, and outdoor amenities into a simple, off-grid and immersive wellness experience grounded in the rhythms of the surrounding landscape.

The project debuts a new mass timber assembly system developed by TimberSystems, transforming locally sourced, fire-killed timber into an all-wood structure that is both fire-resistant and highly insulated. Sauna No. 1 demonstrates how innovative timber construction can support individual health while creating value from post-fire forests, and advancing resilient, place-based building practices. As we continue to refine the project, Sauna No. 1 offers both a wellness retreat and construction prototype that can foster healthier communities by strengthening our relationship between our individual wellness, local economies, and nature.

A small chapel made of orange tiles with a round window in a forested snowy landscape.

Client: TimberSystems + Private

Location: Plumas County, CA

Completion: Ongoing

Scope: Design + Project Management + Prototyping + Fabrication + Construction