Pink crystal sauna transforms industrial site in Sweden
Polluted industrial area becomes public space merging art with sustainability.
1From industrial legacy to public art
Stockholm-based artist duo Bigert Bergström has built a pink crystal-shaped sauna on a former industrial site in Skellefteå, northern Sweden. Named 'Lithium Crystal Sauna', it's the first permanent structure completed for WasteLand Climate Action Park. The site, polluted by over a century of pulp production, underwent 17 years of soil remediation before transforming into a public space, blending environmental recovery with artistic intervention.
2Sustainable material innovation
Clad in pink titanium-coated stainless steel, the sauna features an asymmetrical form comprising approximately 280 prisms. Cut using CNC machines and laser technology, the structure resembles an enlarged lithium crystal. This design references lithium's role in battery technology and the transition to renewable energy. The artists explain, 'Lithium interested us as it's become an emblem of the green transition,' highlighting the mineral's dual environmental significance.
3Dialog with industrial past
Leaning backward at a 4-degree angle, the structure appears to emerge from the ground. Its pink coating was created by evaporating titanium in a vacuum chamber and condensing it onto steel. Resting on a hexagonal platform of local heartwood pine, the mirrored exterior reflects both nature and industrial history. 'The surface shows the river, forest and returning vegetation, but also a landscape profoundly altered by industry,' the artists note, creating visual dialogue between past and present.
4Future-forward energy system
The sauna features a custom battery-operated heater containing 260kg of olivine stones in a metal cage, clad in black flint from Normandy's coast. Designed to use stored green electricity from standalone batteries or electric vehicles, the heater combines cutting-edge technology with ancient references. 'While its energy system belongs to the future, its form nods to humanity's oldest tool - a 2.5-million-year-old stone chopper,' bridging technological eras through design.
5Natural material interior
Contrasting the mirrored exterior, the interior features heat-resistant wood veneer over spruce framing, creating a cave-like atmosphere. Handmade alder benches surround the heater in the 12-person capacity space. Flooring uses local heartwood pine, chosen for its natural resin-rich composition that resists moisture and decay without chemical treatment. This material selection emphasizes sustainability while creating warmth and texture throughout the interior space.
6Space for social interaction
The artists describe 'Crystal Sauna as social and performative artwork: a place where people can gather without traditional barriers to discuss environmental changes.' More than visual art, it's designed as a gathering space that fosters community engagement. This approach transforms the industrial site into a platform for dialogue about sustainability, merging artistic vision with social function in Sweden's evolving northern landscape.
7Regional transformation
The Scharrin industrial site was among Västerbotten's most polluted areas, damaged by decades of toxic emissions from pulp production. Cleanup began in 2006, culminating in this 2023 art installation. The project demonstrates how post-industrial spaces can be reimagined for public and ecological purposes. By preserving historical context while introducing sustainable design, it offers a model for reconciling industrial heritage with environmental responsibility in northern Sweden.
8Intersection of art and sustainability
Lithium Crystal Sauna exemplifies art's power to transform public spaces through meaningful design. Rather than erasing industrial history, the project engages with it critically, referencing both the promise and environmental costs of green technology. The artists note, 'This contradiction felt highly relevant in Skellefteå,' creating layered commentary on transition economies. The sauna becomes both functional infrastructure and symbolic gesture, inviting visitors to contemplate complex relationships between industry, ecology and community.