Trosten
Floating Sauna
Taking a stroll at Oslos piers, passing the Opera, the Munch Museum and walking along the Museum Island you reach the “Sauna Village” of the city. A quite unique place for a European capital, creating a “totally-makes-sense-moment” if you are into sauna culture.
(Places of Wellbeing)The hero of the sauna village, a turquoise building silently floating in the fjord, is named Trosten. Designed by Architects Estudio Herreros the floating sauna is one of a kind. The Spanish studio teamed up with The Oslo Sauna Association to connect the city and the fjord with an accessible wheel-chair-friendly building that serves the public and presents an opportunity for indoor and outdoor activities all year long.
Accommodating up to 24 people in the sauna, Trosten can host up to 50 visitors on its external amphitheater with views across the pier and the city. Built from repurposed aluminum panels on the outside, the interior features wood and recycled terrazzo tiles. Another feature that takes social inclusion into consideration is a special ventilation system ensuring even heat at all levels.
The project with the vision to “bring steam to the people” comes just two years after the opening of the new Munch museum, designed by the same studio.
Estudio Herreros, founded by Juan Herreros in partnership with Jens Richter, is a dynamic architectural firm known for its innovative and socially responsible designs. Herreros looks back on over 30 years of experience, first as the co-founder of the legendary Ábalos & Herreros and later as a professor at the Madrid School of Architecture and Columbia University. With offices in Madrid, New York and Mexico, and architects from different nationalities, Estudio Herreros has garnered international acclaim for its ability to blend contemporary aesthetics with functional, sustainable solutions. Their portfolio includes notable projects such as the Ágora-Bogotá public space in Colombia and the Panama City Banco Panama Tower. Estudio Herreros emphasizes collaboration, integrating diverse perspectives to create spaces that are both inspiring and adaptable to their users’ needs. The firm’s approach combines cutting-edge technology with a deep respect for cultural and environmental contexts, resulting in architecture that is as meaningful as it is visually striking.
Sauna
Etiquette
- GenderMost often, public saunas are separated by gender, often with a shared resting area.
- ClothingMany saunas have a strict “no swimsuit” rule to limit bacteria brought in by wet bathing suits. Check the respective sauna rules before going.
- HygieneBefore entering any sauna, a shower is mandatory. In Norway, the naked wash down with soap and shampoo is a must. A light rinse isn’t going to cut it here.
- TowelsAlways use a towel when sitting or lying down in a sauna. Your skin will thank you as the surfaces heat up immensely. It also keeps sweat from seeping into the wood, ensuring it stays clean.
- Silence please!In most cultures, saunas are here to relax, unwind and enjoy a few minutes of silence. This goes for the sauna itself as well as the resting areas.