Most people who attended the Culture of Bathe‑ing festival in Brooklyn saw the finished ritual: glowing cedar saunas, steam rising into winter air, and hundreds of New Yorkers rediscovering the power of heat, cold, and community.
But before the first ritual began, before the first fire was lit, and before the first guest stepped into the sauna village, there was the planning and the build.
As builders and planners from Superior Saunas, we had the opportunity to help co‑produce and construct New York City’s first large‑scale sauna festival at Domino Park. Transforming a public waterfront park into a functioning sauna village required weeks of planning, coordination, and hands‑on construction.
What emerged was more than a festival. It was proof that sauna culture is gaining momentum in the United States.
Sauna Is More Than a Room
At Superior Saunas, we believe the sauna is more than a room — it’s a ritual. It’s a place for mental clarity, physical longevity, and deeper human connection.
The Culture of Bathe‑ing festival confirmed something we’ve been seeing for years: people are seeking intentional spaces to slow down and reconnect. In a world defined by digital burnout and constant stimulation, sauna offers something simple and powerful — heat, stillness, and conversation.
Designing the Sauna Village
The first step in creating the sauna village was selecting the right mix of saunas. The festival included a range of heat experiences — from large ceremonial saunas to intimate modular builds.
One highlight was the 70‑person event sauna designed by architect Sami Rintala and the Rintala Eggertsson studio. This structure hosted rituals, performances, and group sauna sessions throughout the festival.
Alongside it were several modular and mobile saunas built by Superior Saunas to create varied experiences throughout the village.
The Logistics of Building a Sauna Festival
Building a sauna village in the middle of Brooklyn requires precision planning.
Every structure must be transported, placed, leveled, and prepared for safe operation in a public environment. Early mornings at Domino Park meant cranes, trailers, wood deliveries, and teams of builders working before the city fully woke up.
Managing heat was another critical challenge. Nearly every sauna at the festival was wood‑fired, which required constant fire tending, firewood logistics, and careful heat cycling throughout the day.
Who Showed Up to Sweat
One of the most powerful aspects of the festival was the diversity of people who attended.
We saw athletes starting their day with breathwork, bathhouse owners reconnecting with their own practice, international Aufguss performers experiencing their first American festival, and first‑time sauna users stepping into heat for the very first time.
Every round of heat brought strangers together — and by the end of the session, many walked out as friends.
Why Sauna Culture Matters
For centuries, bathing traditions have served as community infrastructure around the world. Saunas, hammams, and bathhouses were places where people gathered, restored themselves, and connected with others.
Events like Culture of Bathe‑ing show that this tradition is returning to modern cities.
And the sauna is leading the way.
Bring the Festival Experience Home
For our team at Superior Saunas, the festival reaffirmed why we build saunas in the first place. Not just for heat — but for connection, longevity, and community.
The same spirit that powered the sauna village at Domino Park can live in homes, spas, and wellness spaces everywhere.
Because the future of wellness may not be more technology.
It might just be more time in the sauna.
