We designed and built this outdoor sauna and soaking area as a quiet retreat in the Texas Hill Country—an ode to the rhythm of ritual and the restorative power of place.⁠
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Inspired by traditional Japanese onsen culture, the structure is intentionally simple—cedar, rusted corrugated metal, and reclaimed wood—materials that will continue to age, shift, and settle into the landscape over time. The goal wasn’t perfection, but resonance. A space that feels like it belongs here.⁠
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The importance of place can’t be overstated. We wanted to create something that’s not just in the Hill Country, but of it. Nestled into the trees, surrounded by stillness, it invites slowness and reflection.⁠
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The sauna and outdoor shower offer a moment of heat and cleansing, while the cold plunge and wood-fired tub offer grounding. It’s a rhythm of contrasts—hot and cold, rough and smooth, natural and intentional.⁠
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This project is a reminder that design isn’t just about form and function—it’s about how a space makes you feel, and how it brings you back to yourself.⁠