Finnish sauna as part of the house architecture

Luxurious Finnish sauna with a circular window in collaboration with the architect

Sauna as a Natural Part of the House

From the beginning, the investor was clear: the sauna should be as integral to the house as the living room or bathroom. It was not about a catalog solution, but a space that would fully respect the materials used in the interior and blend seamlessly into the overall concept of the house.

The interior wall cladding was therefore chosen from Canadian red cedar, which is not only aesthetically and sensorially striking but also functionally ideal for a sauna environment. The exterior of the sauna connects to the surrounding interior through a custom-made veneered material that the investor has already used in other parts of the house. Thus, the sauna does not appear as a separate object but as a natural continuation of the house's interior.

Features That Are Rarely Seen

The main visual element of the sauna is corner glazing made of bronze glass, which gives the space a sense of lightness while maintaining intimacy. However, the truly unique detail is the circular window with a cedar frame – a feature that is not common even in luxurious implementations and gives the sauna a distinctive character. Working with details and mastering their technical aspects are key moments in custom implementations. In the case of the sauna, it is not just about design, but also about proper solutions for construction, expansion joints, humidity, and long-term functionality.

Unique circular window with a cedar frame. A technically demanding detail that was a clear request from the investor from the start – and a challenge we were ready to meet.

From Architectural Design to Functional Sauna

The foundation of the project was a design with 3D visualization by the architect, which defined the shape of the space, the work with light, materials, and the sauna's relation to the house's interior. The design stemmed from the idea of a place where the client would feel naturally comfortable and which would be visually and functionally a part of the whole.

Our task was to translate this design into a fully functional sauna that would work effectively over the long term – preserving the architectural form as much as possible while also fine-tuning everything that determines the actual quality of sauna use. The ergonomics of the benches, heat management, choice and placement of the stove, material composition, insulation, distribution systems, and control methods. It is the combination of architectural vision and in-depth knowledge of sauna craftsmanship that enables the creation of a space that not only looks great but also functions properly even after years of use.

From architectural visualization to the finished sauna. The design has been preserved as much as possible.

Technology That Is Supportive, Not Disruptive

The technological solution was chosen with an emphasis on reliability, simplicity, and aesthetics. The heart of the sauna is the Tylo Expression Elite heater from the Swedish manufacturer Tylo – an elegant, powerful, and visually clean solution that does not disrupt the overall design of the interior. The controls and heating are designed to ensure that the sauna serves everyday use without complicated operation and with maximum comfort for the user.

The heart of the Finnish sauna is the elegant and powerful Tylo Expression Elite heater with a clean design and intelligent control, which supports the comfort of daily sauna use.

Client's Perspective: Quality that Has Withstood the Test of Time

The homeowner made a careful decision and openly admits that price was not the main criterion. More important to him was the quality of execution, the ability to realize unconventional elements, and overall trust in the contractor.


He evaluates the execution very positively in hindsight – even in the context of the entire family house construction, where complications are commonplace.

"Deadlines were met, the result turned out exactly according to the specifications and visualizations, and the quality of execution, including details, is truly top-notch. After a year of use, not a single problem has arisen."

The sauna has become a natural part of the family's life and is used regularly – exactly as intended from the beginning.

Investor's (Client's) Recommendation

The client's experience confirms one crucial thing: when it comes to a custom sauna, thorough preparation is essential.

"I would advise all interested parties to always have a study or visualization done. And not to choose a contractor based on price, but based on who is genuinely capable of delivering what you want – because you will be living with the result for many years."

Custom Sauna as Collaborative Work

This project is an example of how the collaboration between the investor, architect, and execution company can work without compromises. The sauna here is not an add-on but a fully-fledged part of the house's architecture – carefully thought out from the first design to everyday use.

For us at AndersKafka, this approach is key: to understand saunas not just as products, but as spaces that are meant to serve people, their rhythms, and lifestyles over the long term.