From rural retreats in woodland clearings, the outdoor sauna has reached chic city courtyards and fashionable London gardens.
Here’s the history of how the humble wooden hut turned into a modern must-have for well-being.
There’s something irresistibly comforting about stepping into a hot, cedar-scented sauna at the close of a long day.
Whether it’s the soft hiss of water on hot rock or the dry, seeping warmth wrapping around you like a cloak, saunas are universally desirable.
But as much as the essence of the sauna itself has remained unchanged, the heat, perspire, relax, repeat, how we go about them has evolved very dramatically, especially outdoors.
Londoners, with their increasing interest in health, well-being and getting the most out of their frequently restricted outdoor areas, are now embracing the outdoor sauna not only as a luxury but as a part of an equilibrium lifestyle.
But prior to reaching the cool, glass-fronted buildings adorning contemporary gardens and a modern outdoor sauna, let us briefly travel back in time.
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From smoke to steam: The sauna’s humble beginnings
Saunas date back thousands of years and have their origins in Finland, where they were originally carved out of hillsides.
The earliest ones were smoke saunas, or savusaunas, and utilised a pile of stones heated for hours by a wood fire.
Once the fire had burned down and the smoke cleared, people would prepare to sit there for a long period of time, sweating and being healed.
These initial saunas were not merely areas in which to relax, they were centres for community, healing and even in the case of some of the isolated Finnish villages, birth.
They were passed down through generations and moved throughout the Nordics to eventually find their way into other parts of Europe.
The evolution of the barrel sauna
By the mid-20th century, the outdoor sauna was more well-known in form, the now-famous barrel sauna.
Barrel-shaped like a wine barrel and usually cedar or spruce-encased, the barrel sauna became the favourite for a good reason.
Not only did those curved walls look pretty, but they also ensured good heat circulation, reducing warm-up time and offering an equal steam experience.
Barrel saunas became the embodiment of traditional outdoor sauna culture, particularly for rural cabins and backcountry retreats.
They were a bit rustic and endearing; woody, simple and forever Instagram-worthy. You could spot them in Alpine chalets and even sprinkled along Scandinavian lake shores.
For years, the barrel sauna was the go-to for anyone wanting a slice of that Nordic lifestyle without jetting off to Lapland.
But while beloved, they weren’t without drawbacks. Barrel saunas are space-limited, not particularly well-insulated and can look a bit out of place in an ultra-modern garden design, especially if you’re after something a little more architectural.
Enter the modern outdoor sauna
And just as with everything, fashion evolves, and so does demand. Now the outdoor sauna is getting a luxury makeover. Clean lines, glass fronts, modular builds and energy-efficient heat sources are the way forward.
These next-generation outdoor saunas are built to fit in with contemporary garden style, marrying form and function and looking more like an extension of your living room than a wooden cabin.
In London, where outside space is a luxury, these saunas are a sense all right. They are chic and compact, delivering good vibes without the country cottage aesthetic (unless that’s your thing, of course).
From Primrose Hill patios to Hackney back gardens, a new generation of sauna is sitting comfortably in the background, getting on with things.
Wellness meets design
So, why the popularity explosion now? It’s a combination of everything.
The pandemic years forced people to spend on home pleasures and retool their wellness habits. Instead of booking a spa day, more people wanted to bring the spa home.
Add a growing awareness of the mental health benefits of sauna bathing; better sleep, reduced stress, improved skin, greater circulation, and no wonder that outdoor saunas have become a daily habit rather than an occasional indulgence.
For the fashionable Londoner, a stylish outdoor sauna is also an accessory.
It speaks volumes that you care about wellness, naturally, but that you care about good materials, clean design and about seeking to slow down in an increasingly sped-up city.
From forests to Fitzrovia: Saunas in the city
It’s worth thinking about how much the sauna has come on. From smoky hillside pits in Finland to tastefully situated glass cases between planters in an Ealing garden, the progress has been remarkable.
Outdoor saunas are no longer a monopoly of remote cabins and mountain resorts. They’re thriving in the cities where self-indulgence has become a way of life.
Better insulation, electric heaters and innovative designs have made them available throughout the year, in spite of the notoriously unpredictable British weather.
Even their application has evolved. Where it was previously an individual or family habit, modern saunas are becoming a social well-being, being used for post-work relaxation, weekend parties and even collective therapy in small circles.
A heated affair with the future
The outdoor sauna’s evolution reflects a broader shift away from the manner in which we conventionally consider our homes, our health and our holidays.
From misty smoke cabins to barrel pieces of wood and today’s modern, minimalist garden hideaways, it’s a tradition that’s been reinvented without losing its soul.
In London’s frantic pace of life, in which time is short and room still shorter, the new garden sauna is a little slice of tranquillity, a place to stop, gasp, sweat and remind yourself of you.