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Is it true that new houses are constructed/architectured as "sauna first" and then everything else is planned around the sauna? or is that just an urban legend

Is it true that new houses are constructed/architectured as "sauna first" and then everything else is planned around the sauna? or is that just an urban legend claim?

incognito_robot 7mo ago
Trust your instincts.
ascii0eks84 7mo ago
While it's true something like 90% of the accomodation have a sauna it's not like everything is planned around it. It's more like that it's the ONLY well soundproofed space, with nice atmosphere, that makes life enjoyable when your neighbors suck.
silvertaza 7mo ago
Not around the sauna per se, but sauna is often built first because it serves as a place to live while you're building the house!
- mesrik 7mo ago
  Yes, that it was especially rural environments and not having much options otherwise to live around while building. Sauna that was built then wasn't just one hot room, but it also had at minimum small changing room dressing/undressing, relaxing between turns in steam room. Also if it was first building made then adding also lounge which served as living space with beds and cooking stove while building house was common. With sauna you had place to stay warm first winter, able to get warm water, wash clothes, yourselves and even a give birth old times. Building sauna first made lot of sense. These days sauna for home builders is more about getting sauna somewhere in that floorplan where works well for the intended users of that house.
- fsckboy 7mo ago
  >sauna is often built first because it serves as a place to live while you're building the house wouldn't a kitchen accomplish that goal better?
  - oldestofsports 7mo ago
    The sauna provides heating.
    - vixen99 6mo ago
      Average yearly temperature in Finland is reported as 6.5 Celsius
  - wolfpack_mick 7mo ago
    Due to lack of running water in those times (and still in many cottages) cooking is done above a fire, water is brought from the lake. A kitchen won't serve you well if you're just trying to get through a long winter of -30c.
    - aaztehcy 7mo ago
      [flagged]
jedberg 7mo ago
I have no idea if that claim is true, but what I did love about visiting Finland was the even the small apartment I rented had a sauna in it! It seems like it's a non-negotiable for even the smallest accommodations.
- weberer 7mo ago
  The cheaper apartments tend to not have private saunas built into the bathroom, but most apartment complexes at least have a shared sauna on the top floor. Residents can book a block of personal time in advance.
  - euroderf 7mo ago
    Also there can be blocks of time regularly scheduled, for example on weekends.
  - httpsterio 7mo ago
    In most buildings the shared sauna is on the first floor (basement) and not top.
nextos 7mo ago
Even small brand new apartments tend to have their own sauna, which is quite impressive.

Is it true that new houses are constructed/architectured as "sauna first" and then everything else is planned around the sauna? or is that just an urban legend claim?

incognito_robot 7mo ago

Trust your instincts.

ascii0eks84 7mo ago

While it's true something like 90% of the accomodation have a sauna it's not like everything is planned around it. It's more like that it's the ONLY well soundproofed space, with nice atmosphere, that makes life enjoyable when your neighbors suck.

silvertaza 7mo ago

Not around the sauna per se, but sauna is often built first because it serves as a place to live while you're building the house!

mesrik 7mo ago
Yes, that it was especially rural environments and not having much options otherwise to live around while building. Sauna that was built then wasn't just one hot room, but it also had at minimum small changing room dressing/undressing, relaxing between turns in steam room. Also if it was first building made then adding also lounge which served as living space with beds and cooking stove while building house was common. With sauna you had place to stay warm first winter, able to get warm water, wash clothes, yourselves and even a give birth old times. Building sauna first made lot of sense. These days sauna for home builders is more about getting sauna somewhere in that floorplan where works well for the intended users of that house.
fsckboy 7mo ago
>sauna is often built first because it serves as a place to live while you're building the house wouldn't a kitchen accomplish that goal better?
- oldestofsports 7mo ago
  The sauna provides heating.
  - vixen99 6mo ago
    Average yearly temperature in Finland is reported as 6.5 Celsius
- wolfpack_mick 7mo ago
  Due to lack of running water in those times (and still in many cottages) cooking is done above a fire, water is brought from the lake. A kitchen won't serve you well if you're just trying to get through a long winter of -30c.
  - aaztehcy 7mo ago
    [flagged]

jedberg 7mo ago

I have no idea if that claim is true, but what I did love about visiting Finland was the even the small apartment I rented had a sauna in it! It seems like it's a non-negotiable for even the smallest accommodations.

weberer 7mo ago
The cheaper apartments tend to not have private saunas built into the bathroom, but most apartment complexes at least have a shared sauna on the top floor. Residents can book a block of personal time in advance.
- euroderf 7mo ago
  Also there can be blocks of time regularly scheduled, for example on weekends.
- httpsterio 7mo ago
  In most buildings the shared sauna is on the first floor (basement) and not top.

nextos 7mo ago

Even small brand new apartments tend to have their own sauna, which is quite impressive.