Those looking for a private place to relax could do worse than the One Man Sauna, by German architectural firm Modulorbeat. Based within the grounds of an abandoned factory in Bochum, Germany, the sauna was created as part of an ongoing project to help re-invigorate the local area following a factory closure and resulting job losses.
The One Man Sauna reaches a total height of 7.5 m (24.6 ft), and is constructed from stacked precast concrete frames, which are usually used for building shaft mines. The suitably industrial-looking structure comprises three levels: a plunge pool at the bottom, a working sauna in the middle, and a relaxation space on the top floor which features a hatch that can be opened to let in the outside air. Each level is navigated by ladder, and access is also granted by another outer ladder and hatch.
The sauna was created as part of the Bochum-based Das Detroit Projekt. Following the closure of the local Opel automobile plant and the loss of many jobs, the Das Detroit Projeckt was conceived as a means of encouraging local residents to become participants in re-invigorating the city, and hopefully avoid a fate similar to that which Detroit experienced following its own factory closures and subsequent decline.
The Das Detroit Projekt is holding a festival in Bochum from April 26 to July 5, and includes contributions from artists, architects, musicians, and academics. The festival features debates on the future of Bochum, and representatives from other major European Opel factory cities will be in attendance.
Source: Modulorbeat via Arch Daily
