Solar Egg
Type of sauna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Solar Egg is an egg-shaped sauna created by the artist duo Bigert & Bergström for Riksbyggen.[1] The sauna sits perched in Luossabacken in Kiruna. The egg consists of a pine wood interior and a highly reflected gold steel panels.[2] Its 4 m (13 ft) wide interior can fit up to eight people.[3] while the inside still functions as a normal sauna with a wood-heated heart-shaped stove to keep the room around 80 °C (176 °F).[4] Illumination comes in the form of LED lightning,[5] which is powered by its sets of batteries.
| Solar Egg | |
|---|---|
General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Sauna |
| Location | Luossabacken, Kiruna,  Sweden |
| Opened | April 2017 |
| Height | |
| Height | 5 m (16.4 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Bigert & Bergström |
| Other designers | Lars Hässler |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm | Riksbyggen |
| Website | |
| bigertbergstrom | |
Beyond its function as a sauna, Solar Egg is essentially a public sculpture developed in collaboration with artist duo Bigert & Bergström.[6] The egg was temporarily moved to the Swedish Institute in central Paris, to draw attention to the Swedish design and visitors were able to experience the sauna first-hand.[7] Solar Egg was recognized with Red Dot awards and German Design Awards as well as being nominated in the London International Awards and the Swedish design awards.[8]
The egg shape seeks to symbolize rebirth and new opportunities at the start of Kiruna's urban transformation, a project that involves the relocation of the entire cities districts in response to ground subsidence caused by decades of iron ore minings.[9]
Construction
In Kiruna, Sweden, the entire community is being forced to move due to ground complications caused by a nearby ore mine.[10] The Swedish artist duo Bigert & Bergström was commissioned by Riksbyggen to design commemorative social sculpture for the town after the residents voiced fears of losing community spirit after their relocation.[11] The idea appears to be working, as travel groups are now offering free visits to the Solar Egg.[12]
