The Arco Borghese, Artena, Italy
1.
The Common Sauna of Artena was built in the village of Artena, Italy, in July 2019.
Sara Bissen and Stefano Serafini had the idea of everyone enjoying such a pleasure, socially, and for free. In fact, the sauna is considered an expensive spa luxury in many countries, including Italy.
Professor Marco Casagrande joined and directed the construction of the sauna during the “Designing a Home of Language” 2019 Biourbanism Summer School. Local and international heroes built it in an abandoned cellar in the heart of the ancient Artena in record time: Arch. Anu Mantsinen, Arch. Gabriele Mundula, Arch. Bas Oudenaarden, Arch. Emmaliisa Reinikainen, Arch. Uğur Sağlam, Arch. Ghassan Jansiz, Chi-Ling, Beju Dudali, Giampiero “Mazzetta” Talone, Augusto Angelini, Luciano Talone, and Rinaldo Riccitelli.
“No forced leadership or closed design was given, but an open-form possibility of constructive anarchy for the community to self-engage in a collective mission. The sauna grew along with the momentum of a sense of communicative action though collective work. It is a communicative construction, with no other common language than physical labor and collective mind.” – Marco Casagrande
La Sauna 2019 Biourbanism Artena, Italia by Béju Dudali
2.
An Italian village rarely can offer a Finnish kiuas (stove) right away. Participants could enjoy the first sauna by adapting an old stove. However, smoke was an issue, especially because of the chimney. We planned to solve it later (sketch by Marco Casagrande) and, in fact, Giampiero “Mazzetta” Talone offered his strength to open a new exit for the smoke, while Luciano Talone helped building a new entrance door.
Drawing by Marco Casagrande, Casagrande Laboratory, Image courtesy of the Author
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic came and stopped every activity.
3.
Marco De Sanctis is an expert in building adobe rocket stove mass heaters.
Marco De Sanctis, December 2020
He proposed to build a rocket stove inside the Common Sauna of Artena by using local soil with the help of volunteers. This will happen between December 27 and 31, 2020. The preparation has already started.