Lithium Crystal Sauna Arises From Swedish Riverbank as ray of Hope
Stockholm-based artist duo Bigert & Bergström have unveiled the Lithium Crystal Sauna that looks as if emerging out of Skellefte River’s bank. The shiny pink crystal sauna sits on a reclaimed wasteland of the Scharin industrial site in Ursviken, Sweden. The sculptural landmark celebrates the rebirth of this toxic wasteland into a green public space for rest and reflection.
The Scharin industrial site took almost 17 years of strenuous efforts to clean toxic waste and rehabilitate the damaged soil. Relentless and extensive cleanup transformed Västerbotten’s most polluted industrial area into Europe’s first climate action park. This park creates a new environment where art, knowledge, and recreation become common grounds for people to interact and get inspired by the project.
The artist duo intentionally designed the sauna as a cluster of pink lithium crystals to honor its use in electric vehicle batteries and medicines for treating bipolar disorder. This way, the artists linked clean technological progress with emotional well-being by cladding the sauna with a pink lithium crystal façade.
The Lithium Crystal Sauna has a striking asymmetrical exterior wrapped in titanium-plated pink mirror steel that reflects the recovering landscape. Inside this sculptural pink façade, a cozy wooden cave welcomes the visitors with organic warmth. The interior resembles a wood grotto, mirroring an ancient cave-like retreat where you can take a peaceful breath.
The artist duo built the decking and sauna floor using northern Swedish heart pine. The wood can withstand moisture and decay without chemical treatment, thanks to the natural resin-rich composition. The hexagonal deck is built with the heartwood-dense sections of Swedish pine logs. These logs add stability and long-term durability to the structure.
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The visitors can sit on the handmade alder benches arranged around the heater and admire the framed views of Skellefte River through the entrance door. The sauna heater operates through a custom battery. Once it is hot, the 260 kilograms of olivine stones packed inside the metal cage absorb and radiate the heat. When you pour water over the heated stones, the steam will raise the temperature exponentially.
The Lithium Crystal Sauna perfectly embodies the core idea of this sustainable project, “From Waste to Promise.” The crystal structure stands on a hexagonal platform above the rehabilitated land (former toxic wasteland), hoping to inspire people to protect the environment for generations to come. This innovative project proves that it is possible to renew the toxic land and transform it into a destination where nature, architecture, and people can coexist in harmony.
Via: Dezeen
