estudio herreros' trosten is oslo’s first floating sauna designed with accessibility in mind

the sauna perches along the fjord in oslo, norway

The Oslo Sauna Association and Estudio Herreros unveil Trosten, a floating sauna neighboring the Munch Museum in the Norwegian capital. The Spanish architecture studio, who also designed the museum, conceived Trosten as ‘a sauna for the people’, ensuring a universal, wheelchair-friendly design that is accessible to all including those with mobility impairments.

Perched along the water, the sauna serves as an interface between the city and the fjord. Its design promotes outdoor activities year-round while contributing to the broader vision of fostering a healthier, more sustainable urban environment. Adopting an environmentally conscious approach, the Spanish architects clad the structure in recycled aluminum originally intended for trucks, its visual language alluding to that of the landmark museum behind it.

image by Einar Aslaksen

estudio herreros wraps trosten in recycled aluminum

In May 2022, during the unveiling of the sculpture The Mother at the Munch Museum, representatives from the Oslo Sauna Association happened to converse with the architects from Estudio Herreros. Discovering a mutual appreciation for the sauna, the two developed the concept of Trosten. Unveiled to the public in May 2024, it is Oslo’s first floating sauna designed with universal accessibility in mind.  Various user-friendly features are integrated, including accommodation for two wheelchairs and a bespoke ventilation system that ensures consistent warmth at all heights.

The facade is shaped from repurposed aluminum panels developed by Norwegian firm Hydro, thus ensuring a low carbon footprint. Its interior is equally eco-friendly, featuring wood and recycled terrazzo tiles that lend a sense of warmth. Beyond its functionality, accommodating up to 24 people in the sauna inside,  Trosten is envisioned as friendly meeting point in the city. An external amphitheater welcomes 50 visitors at a time, providing a communal space where all members of the public can enjoy each other’s company and views across the pier and city. ‘We architects often work to solve problems. Here, on the other hand, we have done work characterized by pure joy. People will come here to enjoy life and have fun,’ says architect Juan Herreros.

The Oslo Sauna Association and Estudio Herreros unveil a floating sauna | image by Einar Aslaksen

Trosten neighbors the Munch Museum | image by Einar Aslaksen

conceived as ‘a sauna for the people’ | image courtesy of Becky Zeller / Oslo Sauna Association

clad in recycled aluminum | image courtesy of Becky Zeller / Oslo Sauna Association

wood and recycled terrazzo tiles lend a sense of warmth | image courtesy of Becky Zeller / Oslo Sauna Association

a n external amphitheater welcomes up to 50 visitors | image courtesy of Becky Zeller / Oslo Sauna Association

project info:

name: Trosten

architects: Estudio Herreros

location: Oslo, Norway

collaborator: The Oslo Sauna Association