Slow Sauna

hold your breath, there’s a world out there
Hold (noun)
1. The act or process of receiving someone or something warmly and protectively.
2. A sense of comfort, safety, and belonging created by a person, place, or environment.

Program: Sauna
Implantation area: 24m²
Location: Lake Mývatn, Iceland
Client: internacional competition – shortlist finalist
Year: 2026 (finished)
Architecture: CURO
Archviz: Joana Marques

Slow Sauna

Program: Sauna
Implantation area: 24m²
Location: Lake Mývatn, Iceland
Client: internacional competition – shortlist finalist
Year: 2026 (finished)
Architecture: CURO
Archviz: Joana Marques

HOLD is a project designed for cold climates, where architecture creates a connection between the human body and the surrounding landscape. More than a shelter, the space transforms thermal comfort into a sensory experience, providing an environment dedicated to the sauna ritual and well-being.

A proposta explora o conceito de holdingThe design explores the concept of holding through a compact form that protects, retains heat, and fosters a sense of comfort and enclosure. The building's geometry guides movement through preparation, heating, cooling, and resting, creating a continuous sequence of experiences.

Natural materials, high-performance insulation, and timber interiors strengthen the relationship between architecture, climate, and its users. The result is a space where ritual, nature, and contemplation merge, making the sauna and greenhouse function as one integrated environment.