Licht Architecture has created a floating sauna set to a dramatic backdrop in Australia's island state south of the mainland.

The project sits on a lake in a small town in northeast Tasmania. It encompasses two black and white gable sheds that sit quietly against the dramatic backdrop of quarry cliffs and rainforest – one pavilion is a changeroom and the second is the sauna.

The design of the sauna focuses on sensory experience and the progression of privacy and containment, with materials chosen accordingly – dark recessive burnt larch offers solitude and privacy for the sauna, while in contrast, the light-filled changing pavilion casts silhouettes of its users against the Ampelite fibreglass and polycarbonate cladding.

The buildings float together in the landscape, offering a unique opportunity for isolation and relaxation.

This project has been longlisted in the small building category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Architect: Licht Architecture

Project: Floating Sauna Derby