Skip the Bathhouse and Get One of These $14K Shire-Chic Saunas Instead

The secret is out on saunas. Clamoring for the purported health benefits of a good steam, among them detoxification and improved mental health, a growing base is booking more and more time in hot, sweaty rooms. Shared spaces like bath houses in city centers provide the easiest access, but also the least amount of privacy. Luckily, if seclusion is critical to your wellness regime, you have options.

An increasing number of companies are crafting prefab saunas that can be delivered to your backyard, empty plot of land, or nearby body of water. Higher-end models with all the bells and whistles—large windows for views; an outdoor shower with a deck—will run you about the same price as a new Toyota Camry. But there are less expensive options, too, that are no less stylish.

Back in 2014, Estonian company Iglucraft announced its first lineup of fairytale-esque saunas and matching cabins with shingled facades, half-moon windows, and arched doors; a hobbit and their pals would be right at home. Now, it’s announced an update to the original designs that retain the shire-chic aesthetic.

"The central idea was to create a special place to appreciate spending time, while elevating those very ‘Iglu’ qualities that are already so intriguing," says U.K. designer Jason Lawlor, who worked on tweaks that can be seen in both the sauna and cabin designs.

The first thing you’ll notice about the new saunas and cabins are the windows. Iglucraft still offers the smaller hole-punch versions they had before, but now, depending on the design you choose, the door can be positioned out of the way of a larger dome-shaped window that nearly spans the facade.

While the new glazing enhances the ambiance with a better connection to the outdoors, the interiors are a vibe unto themselves. Recessed mood lighting running the perimeter and positioned within the wood-paneled seating casts a soft glow. "The new lighting allows the curved shingle ceiling to take center stage," Lawlor points out.

For the largest cabin, a 230-square-foot, two-bed plan—Lawlor was particularly focused on maximizing space in the bathroom. "We wanted one of the rounded ends to form a kind of personal cocoon for the shower," he explains. There are more space-saving moves in the kitchen—"the swing-out table stows away, gracefully sliding back into place and creating a cubby for the stools to tuck away as well," continues Lawlor—as well as near the entry, which now has a closet.

The upgrades for the new Iglucraft designs come at a higher cost, with the two-bed cabin asking upwards of $81,000. The new sauna is close to the original price of around $12,000, with the smaller, egg-shaped model that can fit four people now starting at roughly $14,000. From here, things start to edge into new car territory. But can you really put a price tag on your health?

Related Reading:

These $28K Backyard Saunas Are as Stylish as They Are Soothing

A Designer Builds a Scandinavian-Inspired Sauna That Floats Off the Maine Coast

This Floating Sauna in Switzerland Lets You Steam, Plunge, and Repeat

Project Credits:

Design: Iglucraft / @iglucraft

Construction: Iglucraft / @iglucraft