Within the serene expanse of OND PARK in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, Japan, a unique architectural intervention fosters a new kind of public intimacy. OND SAUNA, designed by the visionary practice Amane Archi, stands as more than just a wellness facility; it is a carefully calibrated vessel for social interaction, subtly redefining communal space within the Japanese context. Nestled within a complex dedicated to regional revitalization – offering exercise, healing, dining, and learning – the sauna emerges as its poignant heart.
Strangers, nearly unclothed, share close proximity here. While public saunas inherently suggest intimacy, the Japanese sauna culture hasn’t traditionally embraced this level of communal ease. Amane Archi recognized this nuance. Their solution? To craft a sociopetal space – neither intrusive nor overly familiar – where individuals could share a common, unspoken understanding. The key instrument in this delicate social choreography became the wall. Not a barrier, but a mediator.
These “walls of neutrality,” as the architects describe them, perform a dual role: attached and detached. Their careful verticality resonates rhythmically with the surrounding forest, drawing the lush greenery visually closer through deliberate gaps. Yet, their precise, discrete arrangement simultaneously regulates the degree of intimacy between neighbouring bathers. The irregular plan of the structure wasn’t mere whimsy; it was a rational response to the need for visual permeability and spatial expansion, allowing the eye to travel and subtly adjusting personal boundaries.
Achieving this complex spatial and social objective relied heavily on innovative material application. The entire structure is elegantly resolved using 150 mm CLT floorboards. This choice of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) was fundamental, enabling the elimination of traditional beams. This simplification resulted in the absence of non-perpendicular joints, significantly contributing to labour-saving construction on-site. The rationally scaled wall modules are discretely assembled and interconnected solely by these robust CLT slabs. This very approach to structure – discrete, interconnected, modulating proximity – embodies the sociopetal architecture principle at the project’s core.
OND SAUNA transcends the typical thermal experience. It becomes a space where heat, steam, dousing water, and cool-down rituals unfold within a frame that actively connects visitors to nature and gently nudges them towards a shared, quiet presence. The forest breathes into the space through the timber gaps, while the architecture quietly curates a new potential for community. This thoughtful fusion of wellness architecture, sustainable timber construction, and profound social sensitivity has garnered recognition, recently winning the Popular Choice Award in the Spa & Wellness category at the prestigious 13th Architizer A+Awards.