Lakeside sauna by the sea: A journey from dreams to reality

Our sauna project got underway when we stumbled upon Ehta's sauna cabins on social media. We had long dreamed of a lakeside sauna to accompany the summer cottage built in the 60s, which would also have extra space for guests.

Our summer cottage is located in Kustavi. The plot is lovely, but challenging, as there's a bit of a distance from the car park to the shoreline and the terrain is hilly and rocky. Therefore, it was immediately realised that a finished sauna cabin couldn't be lifted into place. Carrying the logs and other materials to the shore thus proved to be the only option.

The project began with excavator work, as the site for the future lakeside sauna had a considerable amount of excess soil and a few trees. The regulations for the location itself were also thoroughly examined, and the final cabin was anchored precisely within its limits, specifically 15m from the shoreline. The actual work started with the foundations, which were watered like freshly planted flowers during the heat of midsummer. Soon, the actual size of the building, including its terraces, began to take shape before one's eyes. Wow, the plot was about to gain a whole new dimension. 

Once we had completed the foundations, the wait for the logs and material delivery began. We were a little anxious about what kind of undertaking it would be, as all the cabin materials would have to be carried down the slope to the shore. Eventually, the material delivery arrived, and the driver skillfully manoeuvred it between the trees to the parking space on our plot. We started trying to figure out what each package contained. We didn't want to open the packages unnecessarily, as we wanted to keep the materials well protected from the weather. However, Ehta was able to give us very clear instructions on which item was on which pallet. 

Bundling the logs was a pleasant job. Two friends helped to put it up while my father and I carried the logs down. Little by little, the cabin started to rise. However, the unstable summer weather caused difficulties, and the weather forecasts were closely monitored during the construction phase. At times, we played Wimbledon and tore tarpaulins over the logs when rain surprised us from the sea. 

We knew that in our case the construction phase would be slow. It was a great relief when we finally got the roof on and the log surfaces treated. The frame was therefore assembled and protected, and we could start building the terrace around it. Now it was time to move towards the next stage of construction. The installation of the floor and roof symbolised for us that we had somehow moved into the latter half of the construction phase. In reality, the inexperienced builder was eventually surprised by how much the stages after erecting the frame required familiarisation and took time.

We chose Tikkurila's ”piki” (pitch black) colour. The pitch black blends in nicely with the landscape and is modernly Scandinavian. Inside, we used a light, translucent colour. Winter surprised the builder, and as the air grew cold, I began to rush the final stages of construction. The floor and interior ceiling were still unfinished. However, the floor and ceiling panels were installed before the first snow, even though we worked with numb fingers at times. The sauna cabin began to take on character. Gradually, a fireplace, stove, and chimney were added inside. The thrill of momentum began to set in, and we couldn't wait for our first sauna experience. The final inspection was carried out in November, and our dream of a Christmas sauna came true.

The sauna has become dark and a large panoramic window has crowned our sauna. The view is incredible, as you can look directly out to sea from the window. Passing boats and waterfowl can be spotted directly from the sauna benches, and my father and I have even adopted our own sauna birdwatching spots.

The new guest house brought a lot of new character to our summer place. The plot has been utilised more extensively and the possibilities for recreation are far more varied. The sea, which is important to us, has become even closer to our daily lives. Our own shoreline has been highlighted, and in the summer I noticed that thoughts and people began to focus around the sauna and the shore. The new sauna building highlighted the nature and the plot's characteristics in an interesting way. There is still a lot to be done around our new sauna building. In the future, however, life at the cottage will focus even more around our new and new-generation-representing lakeside sauna.

– Ilari Välimäki