The Derby Floating Sauna, designed by Licht Architecture, consists of two buildings situated on a floating platform in a lake. One building contains the sauna; a relaxing space to sit, letting the body calm and soak up the heat and aromas. The other provides a place to store mountain bikes and get changed.
After warming up in the sauna, guests take a plunge into the lake, which shocks and resets the body, before returning to the sauna. The Derby Floating Sauna is popular among visitors brought to the area to use the world-class mountain bike tracks, as well as others who wish to partake in this luxurious experience. The Derby Floating Sauna is also an award-winning building, being the recipient of the 2021 Peter Wilmott Award for Small Project Architecture.
Striking qualities include the contrast between the black charred timber and the white, semi-translucent exterior cladding, which appear to mimic the colours of the dark water and fog, so commonly found on the lake. The translucent cladding also allows the whole form to glow, creating an additional weightless quality.