Trosten Floating Sauna by Estudio Herreros: A Landmark in Oslo’s Waterfront Design

Located at the vibrant Harbour Promenade in Oslo, Norway, the Trosten Floating Sauna by Estudio Herreros stands as a striking example of contemporary sustainable architecture. Completed in 2024, this floating sauna reflects a perfect blend of innovative design, environmental responsibility, and social inclusion. Captured beautifully by photographer Einar Aslaksen, the sauna transforms the Oslo waterfront into a space of both communal engagement and personal retreat.

Architectural Vision: Bringing Steam to the People

Two years after the inauguration of the Munch Museum, Estudio Herreros introduced Trosten as an architectural manifesto for public interaction and contemplation. Commissioned by the non-profit Oslo Sauna Association, the project embodies their vision of “bringing steam to the people.” Inspired by the tradition of object-pavilions, Trosten features a bold, colorful volumetry, designed to be both a visual landmark and a functional space for individual relaxation or collective gatherings.

The sauna’s program includes a steam cabin, a terrace overlooking the fjord, and an amphitheater for small events, seamlessly integrating leisure and cultural experiences along Oslo’s waterfront.

Sustainable Design and Responsible Materiality

Trosten emphasizes sustainability through a high-performance energy system that maintains constant heat throughout all levels. The structure prioritizes eco-conscious materials, including certified wood, recycled aluminum facades, and Green Label-certified terrazzo tiles, which provide thermal inertia while reducing environmental impact.

Notably, Trosten is the first universally accessible sauna in the area. Its steam recirculation system and thoughtful design ensure wheelchair accessibility from the grandstand’s lower step, exemplifying inclusive architecture.

Floating Architecture and Urban Integration

Part of a cluster of innovative floating saunas at the mouth of the Akerselva River, Trosten blurs the boundary between land and water. The sauna village enriches the Harbour Promenade, a 7km public space offering walking, jogging, cycling paths, beaches, sun decks, and year-round bathing platforms. The project highlights how small architectural interventions can contribute to urban regeneration while maintaining ecological sensitivity.

Trosten functions as an observatory, inviting visitors to slow down, observe the city, and connect with natural rhythms. Its name, derived from the Norwegian word for the migratory thrush bird, symbolizes luck and the interconnectedness of global ecosystems.

Experimental Construction and Prefabrication

The project also features an experimental construction approach. The wooden structure was first assembled in a dry dock on the city’s outskirts before installation on a prefabricated concrete floating platform, where interiors and enclosures were completed. This method minimized disruption to the sauna village, showcasing an innovative strategy for modular floating architecture.

Through certified materials, recycled aluminum, and eco-conscious terrazzo tiles, the Trosten Floating Sauna contributes to decarbonization and sustainable urban development, making it a model for environmentally responsible public architecture.

Key Highlights

• Location: Oslo, Norway – Harbour Promenade
• Architects: Estudio Herreros, Lead Architects: Juan Herreros, Jens Richter
• Photographer: Einar Aslaksen
• Manufacturers: CH Prosjekt, Huguet, Moelven
• Completion Year: 2024
• Sustainable Features: Certified wood, recycled aluminum, Green Label terrazzo tiles, energy-efficient systems
• Accessibility: First universally accessible floating sauna in Oslo

All photographs are works of  Einar Aslaksen