Bastu Drömmar: What the Swedes had to learn about sauna construction?
If you thought the Finns would be the first country in the world to have a TV reality show about sauna construction, you’re mistaken. Although sauna, or natively, bastu, is not unfamiliar to our neighbouring Swedes, it did take me by surprise to realize their domestic tv company SVT had taken a leap on the topic in 2024. I didn’t see that coming! (and what’s worse, it took me two years to learn about it). As I stand corrected, I want to spread word about its existence as well as some insights that may help aspiring builders globally.
Bastu drömmar (sauna dreams) is a short, non-commercial series about regular people building exceptional saunas. It was released in 2024 and 2025, with the third and last season soon to appear. The saunas are discussed by two Finnish-speaking Swedish architects, Reija Toivio and Hillevi Olsson. I had the pleasure of meeting the latter at the International Sauna Congress 2026 and asking her about the experiences behind the scenes, as well as how it all got started in 2023.
My Finnish readers should know that the first season with Finnish subtitles can be viewed on YLE Areena until 18.10.2026.
How did it get started?
SVT production went to considerable lengths to find the most suitable experts to bring in the professional voice alongside the self-made builders. Not just any architect could qualify, they had to speak both Swedish and Finnish. Matching these criteria, Hillevi auditioned with several people before it became obvious that Reija and Hillevi were the match for the show.
How many saunas were built?
Each episode records the planning, construction, and inauguration of a single sauna. During season one, eight episodes about six saunas were released, and in the second, six. An anonymous source leaked very secret information that in the third, and likely final, season six more would be built. Altogether, this will make an unprecedented documentary of 18 saunas!
Where did people struggle most?
The series was created so the voluntary builders were filmed and introduced to the architects at the start of construction, in early spring or summer. Reija and Hillevi would later return to wonder what had become of the project around the end of the summer. Most of the projects would be finished, although some did drop out for personal reasons.
This process meant the architects weren’t providing the builders with professional opinions or advice during the project. The builders had to rely on their own vision and expertise to guide them. “Nobody called us up during the construction, so we were always surprised when we got back to site. Few people had very clear plans to start with,” Hillevi said.
“Across all seasons, we only saw a couple of floor drains installed. The rest of the people think they will be doing a lot of floor mopping,” she continued.
So the Swedes fell for the well-known “I don’t think I will use drain” fallacy most first-time sauna builders and owners are subject to. A great learning opportunity for all!
From a Finnish sauna specialist’s point of view, it is difficult not to notice negligence of basic sauna physics and ergonomics, although the joy of building without worrying about the bench height was palpable in the projects.
Which were the hosts’ favorite saunas?
Hillevi recalls two saunas that very especially exciting for her. The S1E3-S1E4 describes Björn’s sauna in Tornedalen (Tornionjokilaakso in Finnish), which has an especially attractive story behind it. That’s indeed an unusual sauna project, worth admiring for its ambition.
From the second season, her favorite was Rasmus’s loft sauna, also premiered in the third episode. It’s a transformation project of an old barn into a tall sauna structure. For the third season, I could not get any spoilers, but I’m sure the third episode is worth watching.
Did Swedes excel over Finns in any area?
The “bastus” occasionally boasted bold and exceptional sauna design and architecture, something you would not see in Finland. At best, this was coupled with great löyly, Hillevi explains. It is an adage: when you approach an old topic with fresh eyes, you can usually find new angles. Quite like what I have observed with contemporary Japanese sauna builders too.
Personally, I found many inventions heartwarming. For example, Björn’s self-made sauna heater that included a smoker unit coupled into the exhaust. Both units were created out of appropriate pieces of scrap metal. The smoker apparently fulfilled its function better than the sauna stove, so all points for trying.
Where to watch?
I hope the production will find a way to be more globally accessible. As far as I know, you can currently watch it easily only in Sweden and Finland (Season 1). This is sad for all sauna fans outside Nordics.
While you may struggle to find a VPN that solves this issue (or not), you may satisfy your hunger for bathing-related films on Sauna Channel, YouTube’s most subscribed sauna feature, that’s migrating into its own, paid platform. That’s very different style, thou.
Saunologist’s takeaways
I can distill two pieces of wisdom people around the world should learn from the Swedish experiment.
First, have a drain.
Second, have a plan (that includes the drain).
When you first plan your project in detail, you can better discuss your fresh ideas with other people, gain new perspectives and get feedback that can help to avoid silly mistakes. Such as having no drain or a dysfunctional sauna.
Thanks to Hillevi for the interview under the hectic conference circumstances!
