Turku Onion Sauna

Turku's Sipulisauna is a work by visual artist Jan-Erik Andersson and American sound artist Shawn Decker , whose official name is The Sounding Dome Sauna. The work was completed as part of Turku’s 2011 European Capital of Culture program and the associated SaunaLab project, which explored the sauna from the perspectives of art, architecture, and experimental spatial design.

The sauna is known for its onion-shaped, bright yellow form. Its shape does not mimic a traditional cabin or backyard sauna, but rather takes the form of a dome-like sculpture that also serves as a functional space. According to Andersson, the design draws on iconic forms found in nature and references the onion domes of Russian Orthodox churches.

The structure features a double-shell fiberglass wall, which deliberately sets it apart from traditional wooden sauna construction. Inside, seats made from old wooden chairs are arranged in “onion segments.” In this way, the sauna combines recycled materials, sculptural form, and functional spatial design.

The soundscape of the Onion Sauna is an integral part of the work. The sound system, designed by Shawn Decker, reacts to heat and humidity: when water is thrown onto the stove, the soundscape inside and outside the sauna changes. Sound is also channeled through the metal “strings” at the top of the structure.

The Onion Sauna was open to the public at the Kupittaa Outdoor Swimming Pool during Turku’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2011 and returned the following summer to the Ekoluoto Art Park, next to the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum. Since then, the work has been incorporated into Jan-Erik Andersson’s broader art and architecture complex.