Home Sauna & Gym with Plunge Bath
MODE transformed an underused garden terrace into a stylish home wellness retreat.
MODE created a purpose-built gym with a glass-fronted sauna and covered plunge bath terrace. Every element balances design, function, and privacy, making the space practical and visually striking.
View from house
Overview
The client’s house and garden is built on a steep slope. With their children now grown up, the upper lawn space was no longer needed. They wanted a home gym and sauna for health and recreation.
The brief was to design and position a garden room with an ‘open’ aspect (with lots of glass) facing the house, but maintaining privacy on three sides.
The addition of a plunge bath terrace was a new element for the MODE build team, who remain unconvinced of the appeal of jumping into icy water on a regular basis – but happy to rise to the challenge!
Budget constraints also shaped our approach in terms of the overall room size and the amount of terrace, so the layout was planned carefully to maximise usable space.
Our Approach
Layout planning in progress
We designed the space around a self-contained glass-fronted sauna, positioned for a view down the garden towards the house. This allowed the rest of the room to function as a gym space, and the rooms’ timber base was reinforced for the dynamic loading created by gym use, and the weight of the plunge bath which would likely be around 400kg alone.
Gym design - plan view
A covered terrace was added for the plunge bath, providing privacy and weather protection. Moist air extraction, easy access from sauna to terrace, and integration with existing power and lighting were carefully planned.
We also created a huge decking area on the middle terrace, carefully matching the deck heights to the steps in front for comfort and safety. We created the impression that the decks were ‘floating’ by recessing and concealing the support structures.
Every detail focused on comfort, practicality, and visual impact.
The Outcome
The result is a visually striking garden room that works as a gym, wellness retreat, and adds a whole new social space to the garden. It looks stunning from the house, and also respects the neighbours’ views from their own gardens.
Smart outdoor lighting
Interested in something like this for your home? Book a free Garden Survey or Get in Touch for friendly advice and a no-obligation quote.