Year:
2024-2025
Scope:
308 sqm
Location:
Keskuskatu, Helsinki, Finland
Client:
Kyrö Distillery Ltd.
Partners:
Photography: Unto Rautio
Kyrö Sauna Bar brings the essence of rural Ostrobothnia into central Helsinki through a bold fusion of two Finnish passions: sauna and rye whisky. Created for Kyrö Distillery, the space offers a fully immersive brand experience where architectural storytelling, sensory design, and cultural heritage converge.
The venue unfolds across three distinct zones. Guests enter through Kyrö’s Barns, a series of dimly lit, timber-clad spaces reminiscent of traditional granaries. From there, they ascend to Kyrö’s Yard, a communal gathering space anchored by a massive plank bench and a bar built from recycled concrete. Before reaching the sauna, visitors pass through the Barrel Warehouse, a corridor lined with repurposed whisky barrels now serving as standing tables.
At the heart of the experience is the sauna itself, a compact prefabricated wooden structure set within the inner courtyard. Minimalist in form and rich in atmosphere, it channels the rituals of traditional Finnish bathing through low light, dark materials, and tactile surfaces. Washing is done the old way, by ladle and basin, emphasizing slowness, simplicity, and presence.
Material reuse and modular construction were central to the project. Rough-sawn planks, exhibition wall panels, and surplus concrete were repurposed with care, creating a layered, textural environment that reflects Kyrö’s values of authenticity and sustainability.
Kyrö Sauna Bar is both destination and dialogue, a space where stories are shared, boundaries softened, and traditions reimagined.
Mikko Koskinen, Co-Founder, Kyrö Distillery
