Words by HB Mertz, Founder of Harbor Saunas
My early career was spent documenting maritime regions found throughout the Northeast and Scandinavia. It's where I was initially introduced to sauna culture, and along the way developed a deep admiration for the people, work ethic, and architectural intent that has carefully shaped these places. The buildings in these parts of the world historically were built with a defined purpose, and the material selections were chosen to age gracefully within particularly harsh environments.
While traveling the entirety of coastal Maine, a friend once introduced me to an old boathouse on an island off the coast. Set within native trees overlooking an inlet, this scene is one commonly found throughout Maine, with each structure carrying its own story and intent.
Nearly a decade later, I was able to return to this location. The boathouse had seemingly changed very little, a testament to the material choices from its initial build many decades ago.
These working boathouses and coastal structures have much to teach us if we are willing to listen. They were designed to quietly serve a purpose over decades of harsh weather, and still provide tangible lessons we can draw from today.
At Harbor, much of our design language traces back to this same build intent. Standing there again, this boathouse reminded me why these buildings continue to resonate so deeply, and why many of the principles behind them have shaped the way we think about sauna design today.
Function & Form Can Coexist
One of the most compelling things about historic maritime structures is that they were built primarily for utility, yet carry a timeless architectural presence.
Rooflines existed to shed rains and snow, and materials were selected with a clear intention.
Despite the usage of each building in these regions varying, many of the forms remained similar in nature, intending to protect what was within.
While we modern builds carry similar goals, the timeless forms of buildings like this show us that form doesn't need to be compromised to achieve them.
Build with the Natural Environment
Buildings that survive in these conditions are carefully worked into the landscape
Tucked into a rocky inlet and surrounded by trees, the boathouse felt protected by the landscape around it rather than exposed to it.
Large granite foundation blocks sourced locally from the island anchored the building into the shoreline, supporting the structure for decades against harsh coastal conditions and the changing tides.
These maritime structures often relied on the natural materials immediately surrounding them, creating buildings that felt lasting and a part of the environment they were built within.
Material Selection Matters
Many historic maritime buildings have survived for generations because their builders understood materials deeply.
Certain woods were selected because they resisted moisture and metals were chosen because they could tolerate corrosion. Construction techniques evolved through generations of refinement and offer valuable insights we can still draw upon today.
We can see these intentional material choices play out over time, quietly aging and serving purpose through each passing season. Our Weathered Grey exterior treatment is based on this natural weathering, closely emulating cedar silvering through exposure to the elements.
At Harbor, we strive to build with these same intentions in mind, looking to these maritime builds because they carry lessons worth preserving. Lessons in functionality, material honesty, and building techniques shaped carefully by environment and necessity.
We pay close attention to how our saunas will age, how materials will weather, and how the sauna experience itself can be carefully preserved within demanding environments over time.
Most importantly, these places remind us that good design is rarely about excess. It is about understanding what truly matters, then building thoughtfully enough for it to last.
