Behind the Saltbox Sauna: An Interview with Founder HB Mertz
Featuring its iconic roofline and large interior footprint, the Saltbox Sauna is the latest addition to the portfolio at Harbor Saunas. Drawing from the function provided by the traditional roof structure found throughout New England, it reinterprets a notable form rooted in history, carefully blending modern build quality with time honored material selection and technique. Designed to stand as a quiet statement piece, the Saltbox continues Harbor’s pursuit of developing saunas that carry the same architectural legacy found in maritime regions.
We sat down with Harbor founder HB Mertz to talk in more depth about the Saltbox and the design behind it.
What are your favorite aspects of the Saltbox?
HB: The Saltbox feels like a natural extension of our architectural roots. We've wanted to make something to accompany our core Lighthouse and Iska Saunas that was slightly larger and gives clients an understanding of what we can design when it comes to interior heating spaces. I really like how organically the Saltbox feels like it fills out our portfolio, and is incredibly unique in form. There’s something about the form that gives it both presence and quietness. I love that it could sit at the edge of a field, beside a home, or tucked into a wooded property and still feel equally balanced. It’s a form that feels familiar in the Northeast, but it also reads as distinctly Harbor.
Why was the Saltbox a natural progression for Harbor's portfolio of saunas?
HB: We’ve always been inspired by traditional maritime structures - the kind of buildings that were made to last through harsh seasons. The Saltbox form allowed us to introduce more interior space and more architectural silhouette while still keeping the integrity of our core builds. It’s our largest standard model, but it doesn’t feel oversized. It’s proportioned in a way that still fits naturally into the landscape.
Tell us about the Weathered Grey Cedar exterior.
HB: The weathered grey exterior has become an important, and potentially my favorite, aspect of Harbor’s identity. We wanted the Saltbox to come standard in this finish, which is a proprietary blend that we apply in-house to provide the appearance of cedar that has silvered naturally over time in the elements. When applied to fresh cedar, it creates a high-end, yet timeless feel to the exterior. It will continue to weather and patina as it begins its life outdoors, but we give it the starting point that encapsulates the sentiment created by the structures found along the coast.
What makes the interior design layout unique?
HB: The Saltbox interior was something we designed to fit a larger group setting, but also provide the ability to fully lay down in multiple directions if using the sauna on your own. We wanted the use L-Bench seating to achieve this and maximize the interior space. The window place to the side provides a thoughtful line of site for anyone on the top bench.
The L-Bench design is unique as well, as we opted to do a bit more intentionality with the lines involved, versus some bench designs in this format that don't feel quite as substantial.
