What a Hut!

They began with catalogue cabins and gradually expanded their portfolio to include garden “Budky” – multifunctional saunas. The CLT structure, refined execution and playful details such as perforated glazing attracted considerable attention; with their latest MINI model, the Carpathian-based brand has also captured international interest. Everything that appears minimalist and functional is usually less simple than it seems.

“Three years of development brought many different situations, and today we know how to respond to them. A sauna has parameters that must be respected, otherwise it simply does not work – and without proper air supply and ventilation, for example, the benches can become too hot. We know our product perfectly, as well as CLT technology, which is not common in sauna construction. We know how to create a functional whole,” say the founders of What a Hut, Lenka Sršňová and Adéla Bačová.

– Why did you replace tiny houses with saunas?
Saunas appealed to us far more than cabins, even though we knew that developing a new product would be demanding. In the Czech Republic, ninety percent of retailers import saunas from Poland or China. We wanted to create something exceptional. We work with local timber suppliers and local production. We have also developed a complete portfolio of accessories; a local farm supplies sauna hats made from its own wool.


– You describe yourselves as designers of “your sweating.” Do you also create bespoke saunas?
Our products are visually pure, and there is usually no need for modification. Naturally, atypical sites require individual solutions. Based on a brief, we can develop a concept or implement architects’ designs. Customisation of our standard models is a given – from dimensions and colours to adjustments of glazed elements.

Collaboration also works in the opposite direction. A111 designed a bespoke sauna and, after discovering our solution, essentially adapted their proposal accordingly. We refined all preferred details for them, including lighting. Our technology is limited only by the 2.5-metre panel width, which we are nevertheless able to connect functionally.


– Where does production take place?
We cooperate with two manufacturers to whom we have transferred our know-how – one in Slovakia specialising in saunas, and another in Moravia, focused on CLT structures. The latter delivers outstanding buildings, for example, for Kamil Mrva. Clients building according to architectural designs usually appreciate the clarity and aesthetic precision of our solution.


– What is your current production capacity?
Twenty-five units per year, which is optimal for the Czech and Slovak markets. Production increases by roughly one hundred percent each year, and if we expand internationally, we will raise capacity. The manufacturers are interested, but we remain cautious. Gradual growth suits us. Each project is a learning process; it feels natural and healthy. We prioritise quality and personal relationships.


– How have your standard models evolved?
We were the first to introduce a sauna design with a perforated wall, which immediately became a distinctive element of our brand. Over time, numerous requests followed for large-scale glazing – when you have a beautiful site, you want to experience the sauna outdoors. The model combining a steam room and relaxation area offers versatile year-round use.

Last year, we added the MINI sauna to the portfolio, responding directly to client demand. Designing it took considerable time; every centimetre was calculated to allow at least one person to lie down comfortably while accommodating three occupants. The design remained pure and, thanks to its pronounced framing, distinctive. Following this project, around thirty international inquiries arrived in autumn, and the first realisations may be completed as early as this year.


– A sauna as a garden pavilion. Does your design respond to multifunctionality?
Originally, we offered the “Budka” as an annex to our cabins – a multifunctional structure suitable for use as a sauna, office, storage space, workshop, meditation room or children’s hideaway.

The first such sauna was created for a client who purchased the Ulita model from EGOE for recreational use in Orava. Ultimately, the entire family with three children began living there permanently. Working primarily from home, they needed a quiet place during the day. We therefore combined the sauna with a workspace. The upper bench serves as a standing desk; the lower bench folds down and includes storage for uninterrupted work. The client describes it as an excellent icebreaker during calls.

When we understand needs in advance, we are able to respond through design.


– What else are you planning for your sauna portfolio?
We are currently developing a cooling tub and a hot tub, again clad in CLT, so that all products form a cohesive whole.


– Privacy or sauna community?
We aim to show clients that a sauna does not have to be a purely private matter. Sharing is increasingly valued – housing, possessions, collective care for space, shared activities. The sauna fits naturally into this context. A group of friends has recently purchased one of our saunas and now use it together after work or take turns.


– And municipal saunas?
We are preparing a proposal for temporary saunas at the municipal swimming facility in Luhačovice, where, despite the abundance of private saunas, public facilities are lacking. The town approached us earlier, but the process is more complex. From a hygiene perspective, public saunas must meet extremely demanding requirements, which significantly increases project costs. A potential solution for local communities is a sauna club, such as the one in Fryšták. The town tested our mobile sauna by the pond, which is now scheduled for revitalisation; a community sauna, which we will design, forms part of the plan. We transport the mobile sauna to various events and municipalities that wish to test communal sauna culture, and it can be rented for such occasions.