Community sauna in the apartment building

Brno's architecture is traditionally perceived through the prism of rational functionalism and strict lines. However, in the basement of one of the historic apartment buildings, a project has emerged that fundamentally disrupts this narrative. The community sauna that now serves the residents of the building is not just a utility space for cold therapy – it is an immersive landscape where the history of the place, the consequences of the global pandemic, and dreamlike imagination converge into one organic whole.

The story of this space is also interesting from the perspective of urban archaeology. In the 1990s, the basement housed a nightclub, a symbol of an unbridled decade. The club included a swimming pool, which, with the end of the club's era, was covered with construction debris and buried under the floor of the building. The turning point came with the COVID pandemic, the period of isolation turned the residents' attention inward. The need for a safe place for regeneration within one's own microcosm led to the decision to excavate the layers of the past and breathe new life into the basement. The very process of creating the sauna resembled a cleansing ritual.

The architectural solution relied on the archetype of a safe cave. The authors avoided the sterile aesthetic of wellness centers and instead emphasized the soft shapes of the arches and the delicate textures of surfaces. The interior is unified by a plaster in powdery and earthy tones, which under the influence of sophisticated lighting changes color from warm beige to intense pink. The sauna itself, crafted from light, horizontally slatted wood, is visually connected to the space of the cooling pool. In the relaxation zones by the pool, mirrors duplicate the arches of the ceiling and the rhythm of the light fixtures, creating the illusion of a dreamlike labyrinth complemented by patchy greenery. The material palette is understated and tonally unified; the covers of the loungers are created through photographic reproduction of the wall plaster on fabric. Additionally, the central pool can be temporarily covered with a movable floor, creating a multi-purpose space that connects to the bar section. The bar, with its softly backlit counter, functions as a social magnet and brings a scenographic moment into the subdued interior. The theatrical touch of the space is complemented by heavy velvet curtains in a gilded color, which is also repeated in the upholstery of retro armchairs.

What definitively pulls the space out of the reality of everyday life is the intervention of visual artist Natalie Perkof, who fully develops her key theme of dreams and the subconscious here. The lounge area is dominated by organic, "fluffy" objects resembling levitating clouds. These textile sculptures not only enhance the acoustics but also serve as visual anchors, transporting the visitor into the realm of waking dreams. The geometrically shaped bar counter (by the way, created from recycled older plastic artwork) levitates on a pink drapery, and the entire scene is heightened by the reflections of pearlescent paint in the background. The visual impression is further intensified by cleverly placed mirrored surfaces offering images of parallel worlds. In the context of the sauna, as a place of physical and mental relaxation, this dimension gains particular intensity - the space becomes not only a place for the cleansing of the body but also a stage for dreamlike imagination.

This sauna is a place where the history of the house is not concealed, but rather, a new, more cultivated layer is built on its cleansed foundations. An important aspect is also the community dimension of the project; the lounge with the bar allows for gatherings outside of sauna sessions and fosters the natural social dynamics of the building. The project thus demonstrates that community wellness can be more than just technical equipment; it can be a therapeutic space that restores our ability to dream together in the post-COVID era.