Social Sauna – Culture of Bathe-ing

Social Sauna – Culture of Bathe-ing presents a new perspective on global sauna, culture, ritual and design. By defining sauna’s essence and exploring how this venerated practice is evolving today, authors Jane Withers and Ria Hawthorn reveal how sauna can benefit wellbeing and community and rekindle joy in our lives. Social Sauna explores sauna culture from ancient global traditions of steam bathing through to modern experimental sauna practices. Examples include the Bathing Culture sauna in Gothenburg by architects raumlabor, the Agora sauna created for the nomadic SALT festival and urban bathhouse pioneers Löyly, Helsinki and Othership, New York. The book was originally published as Social Sauna – Bathing & Wellbeing in 2022. The new edition (subtitled Culture-of Bathe-ing as we are calling the movement) includes an afterword by Robert Hammond charting bathing’s current resurgence.