Photographs by Chabrielle Photography.
Artist’s Retreat Sauna
St. Croix Valley
This whimsical structure was once an icehouse situated neatly beside a spring-fed brook. Because of its proximity to the brook and because of its character, the owner favored re-using the little building as a sauna. The roof was lifted off and a short timbered wall and oversized roof were added. Windows were placed between timbers that hold the roof aloft. The off centered roof adds just enough height for elevated benches inside while the large gable overhang, supported by intrepid timber braces, engages with the space created by a dry stack stone wall cradling an ironwood deck. The deck floats on copper capped timbers just barely above the ground. It narrows along the side of the sauna just enough for a few chairs and bench to sit up against the sun warmed concrete walls then terminates at a few carefully placed stone steps into the brook. A roof window lights the sauna's interior during the day and at night the windows glow softly like a lantern.
Designed by Katherine Hillbrand with Donald Rowe.
Landscape Architecture by Jason Aune, of LHB Landscape Architects
Built by Andlar Construction