OND SAUNA was designed as the centerpiece of ONDPARK complex, which was developed for regional revitalization within a natural park in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, Japan. The complex offers exercise, healing, dining, and learning opportunities.

Walls of neutrality

In the sauna space, strangers place themselves in close proximity to each other, almost naked. From a proximity perspective, saunas are supposed to be quite intimate communities, but public saunas in Japan are not yet at that stage. However, if a space can be created that fits well with the unique proximity and mentality of the Japanese people, a new community space may be born. Amane Architecture's intent was to create a social space (sociopetal) that is not intrusive or too intimate, but where people can share a common understanding. They sought a way to resolve such a relationship by means of a wall that is both attached and detached. The verticality of the wall resonates with the forest, and its gaps draw the forest closer, while its discrete arrangement regulates intimacy with the neighbours.

The irregular plan was adopted to allow the eye to pass through and expand, and to adjust the degree of intimacy, which was rationally solved by the use of 150 mm CLT floorboards. The elimination of beams eliminates non-perpendicular joints in the structure and contributes to labour-saving on-site work. The rational walls of the scale module are discretely assembled and connected by CLT slabs. This discrete structure form itself may also be described as a sociopetal structure.

"We believe that we won the Popular Choice Award in the Spa & Wellness category at the 13th Architizer A+Awards because we created a space where visitors' experiences expand from the inside out, from the individual to the community," says Shimokawa, representative of Amane Architecture. "We hope this recognition will inspire a rethinking of the concept of public space."