Puusauna with Japanese Tea Room
Wallpaper Design Awards: this Finnish island sauna is Life-Enhancer of the Year 2026
Puusauna harnesses the strength of trees through its exquisite architecture, built from whole trunks and designed by Jaakko Torvinen, it is no surprise it earned a Wallpaper Design Award. The incredibly talented architect Jaakko has an impressive portfolio of builds, now adding this unique sauna in Finland to it.
We are honoured to see that our little Hobbit Stove was chosen to sit inside the Japanese inspired tea-room. The Hobbit has a remarkable way of being modern and contemporary, yet traditional and fits seamlessly with any interior. With the small stove heatshields to protect the wooden walls, and brass fittings to add a little pop of contrast against the matt black cast iron structure.
Nestled on Kaunissaari, an island in Finland’s archipelago, Puusauna reimagines the traditional sauna by fusing age-old log cabin building methods with contemporary architecture, all while harnessing the essence of wood. Rather than concealing natural material, Torvinen left whole tree trunks intact as structural columns and visual features, giving the building a strikingly organic presence.
More than just a place to sweat, Puusauna was honoured for its ability to deepen people’s relationship with nature, craftsmanship, and architecture, a true testament to how thoughtful design can elevate everyday life.
The structure combines a two-storey, wood-fired sauna with a light-filled tea room inspired by Japanese design, connected by large windows framing peaceful sea views. Inside, handcrafted details, including charred sauna walls and bespoke furniture, enhance the sensory experience and connection to nature. Tucked inside the tea room sits a little Hobbit Stove with brass fittings and heatshields, sat on a scattered granite tiled hearth, making it a striking focus point as you enter the room.
(Image credit: Teppo Lakanniemi)
