Bobor Sauna: A Public Sauna on the Danube – Reviving Bratislava’s River Life
Imagine sitting in a warm sauna, watching the Danube flow by, with a refreshing dip just a step away. That’s the experience of Bobor Sauna, a one-of-a-kind public sauna in Bratislava – floating directly on the Danube River. But this is more than just a sauna. It’s a social, architectural, and cultural intervention reclaiming public space and reconnecting the city with its river.
The Danube – An Overlooked Opportunity
The Danube, once a vital part of city life, has gradually become more of a divider than a connector in Bratislava. Besides a few kayakers, the river remains largely unused. Sterile, boat-dominated banks leave little opportunity for people to engage with the water. And until recently, the city lacked public saunas with access to natural cooling – a rare combination in urban life.
More Than Just a Sauna
Bobor Sauna was never just about building a sauna. It was about bringing people back to the river and reimagining the urban waterfront as a social, shared space. The project drew inspiration from Bratislava’s own past, including the once-popular Lido pools, and from international examples like Zurich’s river swimming culture.
Finding the Right Spot & Bringing the Concept to Life
Due to floodplain restrictions, permanent riverside construction was not an option. The answer? A floating sauna built on pontoons. After partnering with the Pink Whale club, the perfect spot was found – the rear deck (stern) of their boat, with direct access to the water and panoramic views.
Designed for Simplicity and Calm
In collaboration with Woodmaster and detailed by Peter Jančár, the sauna was designed to reflect the core values of calm and simplicity. Two wide benches invite sitting or reclining. The lower one frames the view of the river and the city, while the upper one turns the focus inward. Under your feet, the Danube flows in liquid form – inside, it rises as steam.
The interior walls are clad in brushed black alder, a nod to traditional Finnish and Estonian smoke saunas. In contrast, the benches are crafted from pale Scandinavian pine – a wood beavers tend to avoid, but which releases a warm resin scent when heated.
The Soul of the Sauna: HUUM HIVE electric heater
At the center is our HIVE electric heater, both visually striking and functionally essential. With its stainless steel beehive shape and capacity for up to 250 kg of natural stones, it produces gentle, long-lasting steam and radiant heat. The installed 18 kW model is connected to a UKU sauna control system, allowing for full remote operation.
The sauna floats slightly above the floor, improving natural air circulation – a subtle echo of its position above the river. The ceiling is gently sloped, encouraging smooth steam movement throughout the space.
A Slovakian First
Bobor Sauna is not just a one-of-a-kind project in Bratislava – it’s also the first public floating sauna in Slovakia, offering a brand-new way to experience nature and urban life together.
Bobor Sauna is a compelling example of how creativity and urban heritage can bring forgotten places back to life. It invites people not just to pass by the river, but to truly connect – to sweat, swim, and be present.
All photos by Katarina Janickova