Have you ever wanted to warm up while camping and swimming at your favorite (but chilly) lake? The mobile sauna concept is growing around the nation for DIY lovers of the popular Scandinavian pastime.
The “Lake Sauna” was designed by Scarlet Duba and built by Rob Licht, both of Ithaca, New York.
Photo by Scarlet Duba
Ithaca, New York designer Scarlet Duba and builder Rob Licht joined up to create this elegant little sauna on wheels. The Lake Sauna has all the amenities of a stationary sauna including a propane stove (kiuas in Finnish) with hot rocks (kiuaskivet), two tiers of benches, a few peekaboo windows and Northern white cedar interior walls and ceiling.
The sauna’s interior features Northern white cedar and a propane stove.
Photo by Rob Licht
The sauna also has the traditional two-tier bench.
Photo by Rob Licht
Duba chose a propane stove since she was not sure when she would have access to firewood.
Photo by Rob Licht
The wood exterior is done in the Japanese style of shou sugi ban in which the wood panels are scorched to create defined details. Duba and Licht built the sauna on a 5×8 trailer to keep it both roomy and mobile. The insulation is foil-faced rigid insulation and gaps were built into the sauna to allow for trickle ventilation.
The Lake Sauna can be towed with a lightweight SUV.
Photo by Scarlet Duba
Duba had dreamed of building a sauna since becoming a member of a Polar Bear Club in Rosendale, New York. After cold lake jumps, the club would utilize a sauna or a Russian bath house to warm up. Her vision was to take a sauna to her favorite lakes, swimming holes and even city parks.
Duba has even used her sauna after a roll in the snow.
Photo by Scarlet Duba
She has parked the sauna in the snow to warm up after rolling in the white stuff, and the Lake Sauna has also been featured in a parade in Ithaca.
Builder Rob Licht added some vents to the ceiling to maintain a perfect interior temperature.
Photo by Rob Licht
Rob Licht is an artist, builder, visual thinker, and a nordic skier who has been enjoying saunas for 35 years. He custom designs each mobile sauna to include a wet space, a dressing area and details like stonework, custom windows and twig hardware. He builds with locally sourced and non-toxic materials and adheres to green building practices.
The Lake Sauna was a star of a parade in Ithaca.
Photos by Canaan Institute
The Lake Sauna design specs are for sale from Duba and Licht just in time for your winter adventures.
