Patricia Urquiola designs modular sauna and hammam for Effe

At Salone del Mobile 2026, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola introduced 'Baluar', a versatile sauna and hammam collection for the Italian wellness brand Effe. This innovative system combines both hammam and sauna into one modular unit, allowing for various configurations. It references Effe's 2025 'Petra SH' modular system, which features a home sauna, hammam, and plunge bath. Inspired by the bastion, a prominent architectural feature of medieval fortifications, Urquiola has transformed it into a wellness environment. The collection showcases heat-treated lime-wood cladding in both dark and light shades, along with controlled lighting and slender vertical grooves. Effe's CEO Marco Borghetti commended Urquiola for her skill in merging heat, materials, and functionality to evoke emotional experiences. The sauna industry is expanding, highlighted by the launch of Finnish-designed Lowlu saunas in London, France's largest sauna Sant Roch, and Klafs' retractable S1 entering the U.S. market.