Pink mirrored sauna reflecting trees and cloudy sky in Sweden.

Mirrored Pink Sauna Embraces Sweden’s Reclaimed Wasteland with Crystalline Elegance

2026-06-25

On the shores of the Skellefte River in northern Sweden, the striking silhouette of the Lithium Crystal Sauna gleams against the waterscape. Conceptualized by Bigert & Bergström, this faceted pink structure anchors WasteLand, a climate action park birthed from the remnants of the Scharin industrial site. Over seventeen years of remediation have transformed contaminated land into a vibrant public space dedicated to art, ecology, and community gathering.

The Sauna: A Beacon of Transformation

Bigert & Bergström’s Stockholm-based team crafted this asymmetrical piece to resemble a lithium crystal, reflecting the dual roles lithium plays in technology and health. The shell, constructed from stainless steel mirrors coated with pink titanium, doesn’t just catch the eye but also embodies the area’s narrative of change—from pollution to promise, just in time for the Society Expo 2026.

Inside, the opulent wood-dominated space lined with alder and heartwood pine offers warmth. Practical touches like flint and olivine stones surround the heater, and elements including copper, glass, and LEDs complete the sauna’s functional design.

Closer view of the pink sauna's mirrored exterior.

A Landscape of Art and Renewal

Beyond the sauna, WasteLand features diverse works that explore themes of environmental restoration and forward-thinking futures. Noteworthy is Bigert & Bergström’s Rundgång and a series of sculptural greenhouses that project climate possibilities. Alive with reclaimed trees and plant life, the space offers a communal playground on this rejuvenated site.

The Lithium Crystal Sauna continues the artists’ tradition of making climate and societal concerns tangible, following their renowned Solar Egg in Kiruna. In this Skellefteå setting, the sauna’s reflective exterior mirrors the ongoing transition of its surrounding landscape, inviting guests into a heated retreat where energy, extraction, and shared rituals converge uniquely.

For another take on minimalist Japanese interiors, see how a Tokyo townhouse reimagined exposed timber using similar construction techniques.

Distinct crystalline design of sauna in Swedish landscape. — lithium crystal sauna sweden

The juxtaposition of steel and wood, innovation and tradition, is epitomized by the sauna’s hexagonal seating and reflective surfaces. Inside, the décor brings warmth—alder and heartwood pine shaping a cozy grotto, completing the thoughtful design with copper and glass accents, and a smartly integrated heater.

Architecture of lithium crystal sauna in Sweden's wasteland. — lithium crystal sauna sweden

Crafting New History on Redeemed Soil

Unique crystalline exterior of sauna reflecting surroundings. — lithium crystal sauna sweden

With this ambitious design, Bigert & Bergström offer not just a sauna, but an experiential art piece that engages with the history of extraction and promises a future of healing and community. The @nordmarknordmarkarkitekter have teamed up to lay out this transformative ground plan, marking WasteLand as a beacon of progressive design and hope.