Solar Egg (sauna)

Solar Egg is an egg-shaped sauna created by the artist duo Bigert & Bergström for Riksbyggen.[1]The sauna sits perched in Luossabacken in Kiruna. The egg consists of a pine wood interior and a highly reflected gold steel panels.[2] Its 4-meter wide interior can fit up to eight people.[3] while the inside still functions as a normal sauna with a wood-heated heart-shaped stove to keep the room around 170°F.[4] Illumination comes in the form of LED lightning,[5] which is powered by its sets of batteries.

Solar Egg
Solar Egg in April 2017
General information
StatusComplete
TypeSauna
LocationLuossabacken
Town or cityKiruna
Country Sweden
OpenedApril 2017
Height5 m (16.4 ft)
Design and construction
ArchitectBigert & Bergström
Other designersLars Hässler
Renovating team
Renovating firmRiksbyggen
Website
bigertbergstrom.com/works/solar-egg

Beyond its function as a sauna, Solar Egg is essentially a public sculpture developed in collaboration with artist duo Bigert & Bergström.[6] The egg was temporarily moved to the Swedish Institute in central Paris, to draw attention to the Swedish design and visitors were able to experience the sauna first-hand.[7] Solar Egg was recognized with Red Dot awards and German Design Awards as well as being nominated in the London International Awards and the Swedish design awards.[8]

The egg shape seeks to symbolize rebirth and new opportunities at the start of Kiruna's urban transformation, a project that involves the relocation of the entire cities districts in response to ground subsidence caused by decades of iron ore minings.[9]

Construction

In Kiruna, Sweden, the entire community is being forced to move due to ground complications caused by a nearby ore mine.[10] The Swedish artist duo Bigert & Bergström was commissioned by Riksbyggen to design a ''commemorative'' social sculpture for the town after the residents voiced fears of losing community spirit after their relocation.[11] The idea appears to be working, as travel groups are now offering free visits to the Solar Egg.[12]

References
  1. Riksbyggen. "Solar egg English - Riksbyggen". www.riksbyggen.se. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  2. "A Mirrored Golden Egg Sauna is Hatched in Sweden". Colossal. 2017-05-08. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  3. "Bigert & Bergström Design Demountable Egg-shaped Sauna for Sweden's Northernmost Town - Arch2O.com". Arch2O.com. 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  4. Carey, Meredith. "This Giant, Golden Egg Is Actually a Sauna". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  5. "Egg-shaped sauna hatches debate in Sweden's far-north". newatlas.com. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  6. "Red Dot Design Award for Design Concepts". Red Dot Design Award. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  7. "Egg-shaped sauna hatches debate in Sweden's far-north". newatlas.com. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  8. "bigert & bergström's multifaceted solar egg makes its way to paris". designboom | architecture & design magazine. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  9. "Solar Egg / Bigert & Bergström". ArchDaily. 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  10. "Great Big Story : Inside Sweden's Gigantic Solar Egg". www.greatbigstory.com. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  11. "Egg-shaped sauna creates escape for residents of Swedish town displaced by mining". Dezeen. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  12. "Now You Can Sauna In A Giant Golden Egg In Sweden's Northernmost Town". Fast Company. 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
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