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The
nautilus sauna is a shell shaped building in which,
by winding
down into its nurturing core, one can find sanctuary
at moments of stress. |
Based on a the nautilus, whose
natural spiral form is a product of growth, the building’s
inner space is compact and enclosing, expanding as it approaches
the outside world, thereby facilitating its inhabitants’ return
to the fray. The spiralling triangular clerestory
window intensifies this effect.
At its thin end the window
limits the illumination in the sauna room, whilst allowing
light
to flood into the expanding volume of the relaxation
room.
Built almost entirely from reclaimed materials, the sauna
has a wood fired stove and a large leaf shaped day bed
for serious lolling around. No sauna would be complete
without its plunge pool. Sculpted by Ali Jeffrey, it curls
around the inside wall like a sumptuous water filled armchair,
its integral steps easing your passage into its refreshing
depths.
The model for the nautilus sauna will work equally well
in other contexts: a meditation space; a summerhouse; or
a family house with sleeping quarters on a mezzanine floor,
accessed via a spiral staircase. The nautilus building
will naturally accommodate the ebb and flow between public
and private domains, actively promoting relaxation and
producing a tangible sense of uplift as you emerge towards
the outside world.
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