Sau̇-ne̳ [Finn] : a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones

Abstract

A Finnish proverb says that the sauna is the most democratic space in the world . Here, we dismantle our vestments of social status and relax in a distinct social space where everyone shares the same basic needs of comfort and the refreshment of body and soul. This is the ideal condition of Finnish sauna. In the cultural climate of New England, a sauna that facilitates this condition must be reinvented. I have designed a sauna adapted for the MIT Campus. Here, through the interaction of the bathers, a social dynamic similar to the Finnish can emerge, also for those who do not share the cultural understanding of Finns. The Hybrid New England/Finnish Sauna was open for public bathing on MIT Campus, from May the 6th until May the 22nd , 1999. Location: Next to All Faiths Chapel, Building W 15 and Stratton Student Center Building W 20, 84 Massachusetts Avenue