Reflections on the Edge of the Arctic: Probably the Most Exclusive Custom Sauna in the World

On a windswept coastline above the Arctic Circle—where the sea works harder than most people do—one Norwegian businessman imagined an unapologetically beautiful retreat. Not a villa. Not a cabin. A sauna. One that mirrors the ocean, endures salt-laden storms, and delivers wine-chilled stillness after days shaped by the sea.

Turnkey Prefab Mirror Sauna

This project started the way many good ones do—in a conversation. The owner of a fishing company had land along the rugged coast near Harstad, Norway. He didn’t want to build something big. He wanted something better. A space to gather with family. A place to warm up and slow down. Something that didn’t scream for attention, but rewarded it.
Enter ÖÖD, the Estonian design brand best known for their minimalist, mirror-clad houses that seem to vanish into the landscape. But this wasn’t a catalog project. It became a fully custom prefab sauna, shipped to the site in one piece and installed turnkey.

The cost? Let’s just say: not small. But you can see where it went. If the Finns who built the first sauna over 2,000 years ago could step into this custom ÖÖD sauna in Harstad, they'd probably nod in quiet approval.

What You Get When You Build Like This

The structure sits on a steel frame, wrapped in three sides of mirror glass. Depending on the time of day, the building disappears entirely—absorbing grey skies, pink sunrises, or the dark blue calm of Arctic twilight.

The interior and exterior cladding, terrace, and ceiling are finished in Thermory’s thermo-treated ash—a rich, knot-free hardwood with the durability of tropical timber and a warm, deep tone that plays beautifully with Nordic light. It’s built to last decades, even in coastal weather.

Inside, you’ll find more than just a place to sweat. There’s a lounge area with panoramic views of the sea, a kitchenette with a wine fridge, a steam room with Huum heater, and a bathroom with shower and an ecological Cinderella dry toilet—chosen because no one wanted to tear up the landscape for plumbing.

The deck outside makes it easy to step directly from the heat into sea air.

The Luxury of Something That Belongs

This sauna isn’t flashy. It’s not even visible unless you know where to look. And that’s the point.

It was designed to serve a lifestyle, not disrupt it. For a man whose work is shaped by the rhythms of the sea, the sauna became a quiet companion—a space for unwinding, hosting family, sipping wine under the midnight sun, and letting the world slow down.

Luxury, in this case, isn’t about square footage or spectacle. It’s about precision, privacy, and permanence. This is what happens when high-end prefab meets lived experience. When materials are chosen not for trend, but for endurance. When design reflects more than just light—it reflects life.

Worth It?

For ÖÖD, this project was a milestone. A test of what’s possible with prefabrication at the highest level. For the client, it’s something far simpler: a place that works, that feels right, and that holds up to the elements without ever trying too hard.

Was it the most expensive sauna ÖÖD has ever built?

Probably.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

Designed & Built by: ÖÖD
Photography: Toomas Lõokene
Interior Furnishings: Mööbliait

Curious about custom prefab builds? Explore more at www.oodhouse.com.