Solar Egg is an oval sauna created by the internationally renowned artists Mats Bigert and Lars Bergström. It draws inspiration from Kiruna's Arctic climate, where light conditions change with the seasons from 24-hour winter darkness to round-the-clock midsummer sun. The egg shape seeks to symbolise rebirth and new opportunities at the start of Kiruna's urban transformation, a project that involves the relocation of entire city districts in response to ground subsidence caused by decades of iron ore mining.
Standing five metres high and four metres wide, the Solar Egg has a shell of gold-plated stainless steel that reflects the city and surrounding countryside. Consisting of 69 separate pieces, the installation can be taken down and moved to different locations within the city. Inside, heat is provided by a heart-shaped wood-fired burner.
"Saunas are places that fascinate. When Riksbyggen asked us to interpret Kiruna, we felt it was natural to explore a space that unites and encourages conversation," Mats Bigert and Lars Bergström stated. "Saunas are sacrosanct places where you can discuss all manner of things - from the big to the small."
Photography: Jean-Baptiste Béranger