Ridiculously Good-Looking Saunas reimagines the sauna as a space of radical design, cultural depth, and elemental beauty -- where architecture and atmosphere merge in the pure pursuit of presence. Far beyond wellness trends, the modern sauna reflects a growing desire for intentional living and sensory clarity.
Curated by Christopher Selman, sauna designer and maker, explorer, and Co-Founder of Out of the Valley, this book presents 36 remarkable projects that push the boundaries of retreat. From forest cabins to lakeside pavilions, each shows how heat, wood, and setting can shape body, mind, and mood.
Christopher Selman is a sauna designer and maker, explorer, and Co-Founder of Out of the Valley, a bespoke sauna studio on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon blending design and nature. Inspired early on by the rituals of his Finnish aunt, Christopher has long been fascinated by the culture of saunas. Recently, he embarked on a year-long voyage to find the world's most remarkable saunas. From remote Japanese onsen to floating sanctuaries in Tasmania, Christopher visited over 100 spaces around the world dedicated to heat and is now regarded as a rising voice in the contemporary wellness space.
Review Quotes:
"Sauna expert Christopher Selman shares the fruits of his year-long journey to finding the world's most remarkable saunas."--Conde Nast Traveller UK
"His [Christopher Selman] forthcoming book Ridiculously Good Looking Saunas brings together a group of projects that displays the breadth of craftsmanship, design, and performance in the category, and explores the culture of sweating it out from the global perspective of science, etiquette, and more."--Domino
"Now, Selman has published Ridiculously Good-Looking Saunas with Gestalten, a celebration of steam baths and a journey from Finland to Japan, passing through Canada and New Zealand, where he has gathered "saunas that embody this global movement towards slowness, simplicity, and shared warmth. Some are classic; others, quirky. But each one offers something rare in today's world: a space to stop, sweat, breathe, and feel part of something.""--La Republica
