The CABANON collection, whose name is inspired by Le Corbusier’s famous cabin, is a nod to the original Finnish sauna which, in Scandinavia, is located outdoors in a separate building and often immersed in nature.
Cabanon is available in two different models to meet the needs of modern-day living: Garden is designed for gardens and green spaces, while Terrace is ideal for more urban settings such as terraces and verandas.
"We had worked with Effe in the past – says Rodolfo Dordoni – and they came to us with the idea of a sauna that could be installed outside. We could draw on our experience for the actual design but, as it was a sauna, the most natural thing was to dig deep into our memories. The first thing that came to mind were beach huts, where warmth and nudity created a feeling of freedom that today we would call wellness. The Cabanon design is intended to be reminiscent not only of the shape of the hut but these feelings too."
As well as developing a technology that would be suitable for outdoor installation and meet all the relevant safety standards, the aim of the project was to find the perfect balance between the two basic requirements of an outdoor sauna: to feel part of the surrounding landscape - any kind of outdoor, garden or urban space - and to create a comfortable, intimate environment.
Taking this as their starting point, the designers came up with CABANON, a fully enclosed sauna – available in a 230 x 230 cm version and a slightly smaller 160 x 160 cm model – with a deck on the entrance side. This extension of the sauna space can be accessorized with curtains in a technical fabric for more privacy and comes in three different sizes, 230 x 220 or 230 x 102 cm for the Garden version and 160 x 102 cm for the Terrace version. The deck is made of WPC (wood plastic composite) boards, a latest-generation material for outdoor use that is pleasant to the touch, safe and hard-wearing.
The standout feature of the CABANON design is that it is modular, making it easy to transport and install in even the most inaccessible places; the aluminium frame has been designed so the interior covering in wood and the external painted corrugated aluminium cladding can be fitted easily in the final stage of installation. Available in three colours – moss, brick and cement – they all have a matte finish and have been chosen to blend naturally into their surroundings, whether the sauna is installed in a more Nordic, Mediterranean or urban setting.
The Terrace version has a single door in toughened glass; the Garden version also features a symmetrical glass window opposite the door which channels light through the sauna, while the benches remain in the more hidden area for extra privacy.
The sauna has a 4.0 kW or 8.0 kW heater depending on its size, with a cover in the same colour as the exterior corrugated cladding. The inside finishes can be in heat-treated aspen throughout or in a two-tone version with solid dark wood and heat-treated aspen.
The warm LED lighting, placed between the bench and the walls, and the soft backlighting of the mirror give CABANON a feeling of warmth and privacy, creating the ideal conditions in the winter when it is cold outside.
A hand-held shower with a flexible hose and pegs for bathrobes on the deck add a sophisticated yet practical touch to the feeling of pleasure and freedom of enjoying the benefits of an outdoor sauna.
