Japanese bathing traditions inform Akari sauna in Greenpoint

A calming, natural material palette influenced by onsens and sentōs in Japan was used throughout this sauna in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, USA.

Akari was founded by Shayna Olsan and Luke Carstens, who collaborated with designer Erin Carstens, architects Stroop Design and thermal consultant Kiel Moe on the interiors of the space on Franklin Avenue.

Entrance to Akari sauna in Greenpoint with bench for removing shoes — Visitors to Akari sauna in Greenpoint are asked to remove their shoes before entering

The concept is based on Japanese bathing traditions, which Olsan experienced growing up there, and translates the hot-cold-rest journey into an experience tailored to New Yorkers.

Craving a place to enjoy this ritual during the pandemic, the duo chose to open their own space that would allow others to incorporate it into their daily or weekly routines – no booking required.

Lounge featuring cushioned bench seating below a garage-style window — The lounge features cushioned bench seating positioned below a garage-style window

"The ease of being able to go to places where you sauna or take a bath, which exist in other parts of the world, just wasn't a thing here back then," Olsan told Dezeen.

"It's something that we really enjoyed doing, and thought if we wanted it surely, there are enough people in New York that it could resonate with."

A tabletop laminated in washi paper by Hanato Wataru repurposed as wall art — A tabletop laminated in washi paper by Hanato Wataru is repurposed as wall art

After opening in Williamsburg in 2023, the brand's second members-only location in Greenpoint offers a "darker, more mature" atmosphere that's partially dictated by the compact, narrow footprint.

"We'd rather work with a small space for a small number of people, than a big space where it becomes too difficult to manage the culture," Carstens said.

A built-in wooden station providing refreshments and displaying merchandise — A built-in wooden station provides refreshments and displays merchandise

Upon arrival, members remove their shoes and then pass the front desk to enter a cosy lounge area where cushioned bench seating is positioned below a garage-style window.

The light-filled room includes a built-in wooden station for providing refreshments and displaying merchandise, and wall artwork created from a tabletop laminated with washi paper by Hanato Wataru.

Wood lines a corridor where lockers, showers and changing rooms can be found — Wood lines the corridor where lockers, showers and changing rooms can be found

Dark stone floor tiles lead through curtains to the all-gender locker, changing and shower area, where wood panelling continues across the walls and doors.

A small sauna for eight users is found on this level, while a larger sauna that houses up to 20 is reached by a short flight of stairs.

A cold plunge surrounded by two-inch-square green tiles — The cold plunge is surrounded by two-inch-square green tiles

This bigger, slightly hotter space features a skylight that softly illuminates the ash-wood benches.

Once suitably sweaty, users are encouraged to head back down to rinse off and then dip into the cold plunge, which can accommodate two at a time.

Ash wood forms benches in a sauna — Ash wood forms the tiered benches in the sauna

"Intentional details speak to the space's subtle Japanese design intention, such as the two-inch-square light green tiles that surround the cold plunge, which is typical in sentō design," said the team.

The 2,200-square-foot (204-square-metre) space is intentionally intimate, and encourages members to slow down and take a moment to themselves.

"It's really their sacred time to rest and take a break in their lives, and we always want to protect that as much as we can," Olsan said.

"For the most part, it's a no-phone, introspective, quiet experience, and I think more and more people are finding that to be extremely valuable."

Seating area against a glass block wall — Areas to rest between hot-cold cycles are also available

A third Akari location is planned to open later this year, and the team hopes to evoke a similar feel while adapting the model to suit the building and the neighbourhood.

"We want it to look like our our voice has been carried through, not just in the design, but also the work itself," said Carstens.

The space is heavily influenced by Japanese onsens and sentōs

Sauna and bathing culture has exploded in New York in recent years, with locations popping up across the city – each with a different design concept and intended clientele.

Bathhouse Williamburg offers a social gathering spot within a former soda factory, while Othership in Flatiron focuses on programming and events within an earthy, atmospheric interior.

The photography is by Crooked Letter.

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