Bademaschinen (or the “bathing machine”) is a tower with saunas that float on the Oslo harbor in Norway. It overlooks the Oslo opera house, Munch Museum and the central business district Barcode.
ACT!’s Norwegian architecture expertise is combined. Studio and Borhaven Arkitekter combined their expertise in Norwegian architecture to create a masterpiece that is perfect for relaxation of the mind, body, and spirit. It consists of two saunas, two towers with changing rooms and two towers. The layout is similar to a pinwheel. One tower serves as a diving platform while the other connects to Lankaia Pier via an elevated platform. This design was inspired by Oslo’s first public bath, timber-framed northern European structures and postmodern architecture.
Borhaven Arkitekter’s founding principal partner, Borhaven Arkitekter, says, “We had a lot fun with references and association, and this playfulness worked well for the program.”
The sauna’s location near the Akershus fortress is evident in the color scheme, which consists of red, yellow, and brown shades. The primary motivation behind the design was to reuse teak window frames from an Oslo 1960s nursing home. Because the home was being renovated and converted into housing, the frames were still available. These window frames were measured by the architects, who then created the rest of the design.
Red vinyl is used to coat the floors and decorate the interior walls of the saunas, changing rooms and saunas. Birch plywood was also used to fill some of the frames from recycled materials. Brass from the windows was used in the locker doors of the changing rooms. All the spaces in the sauna are insulated, and the decking and roof were made of hot-oil-treated pine. The steps to the towers can be used as additional seats. The project took eight months and involved a number of volunteers and workers.
Armelle Breuil, ACT!, says, “We hoped Bademaschinen with its joyful aesthetics would be welcomed as a new addition to the urban landscape of Oslo and that it would work as a social gathering place.” Studio. “Our client Oslo Badstuforening (an association that runs several saunas in Oslo) regularly uses it for various events such as DJ sessions or concerts.”
This article was first published in AQUA Magazine’s March 2023 issue. It is the best resource for builders, retailers, and service professionals in the spa and pool industry. All industry professionals can subscribe to the magazine for free. Subscribe by clicking here
