Guča Arch's Stepped Timber Sauna Evokes Slovakian Wood-Stacks

In Pliešovce, Slovakia, Guča Arch has unveiled the Wood-Stack Sauna Zaježová, a linear thermal pavilion that creatively reinterprets traditional drying racks. This structure, elevated above the rugged landscape, replaces an inadequate former facility and distinguishes public educational areas from private spaces. Moisture is managed by interlocking larch slats, while the layout organizes thermal zones without the use of walls. The design minimizes invasive excavation, protecting the roots of nearby orchards. A raw stone threshold marks the transition from the muddy exterior to the interior. The timber frame is raised on concrete footings, featuring an open platform, a central vestibule, a sauna with a low ceiling, and a relaxation area, all topped with double-layered corrugated metal roofing to enhance air circulation. The focus on lightweight materials ensures optimal thermal efficiency without elevating the sauna to an exclusive status.