KLAFS recently had the opportunity to collaborate with award-winning designer Gesa Hansen to create the sophisticated and stylish GESA Sauna, which is now available through Guncast. The GESA Sauna is a statement design that reinterprets the Finnish Sauna, combining Scandinavian cosiness with Japanese minimalism.

Introducing Gesa Hansen

Based in Paris for the past 20 years, Gesa Hansen is a Danish-German furniture and interior designer. She comes from a long line of architects, cabinetmakers and designers and studied design at the Bauhaus University in Weimar and NZU Nagoya University of Arts in Japan.

Following her graduation, Gesa Hansen worked at Jean Nouvel’s studio, then at the graphic design studio H5 and finally at NDC in Tokyo before founding “The Hansen Family”, her own brand, which embodies a strong commitment to exceptional craftsmanship.

Gesa Hansen develops a style with a strong artisanal character with wood as her favourite material, and her innovative work has not gone unnoticed. She has received several accolades throughout her career, featuring in AD magazine’s ‘’Top 50 Best Designers’’ in 2016 and Wallpaper’s ‘’Best Designers Under 40’’ in 2022. She’s also the recipient of an ‘‘ELLE DECORATION Newcomer Award’’, A&W’s “Newcomer Award” and no less than 3 Red Dot Design Awards – the latest of which was for the KLAFS GESA Sauna.

Award winning sauna design

Discussing the GESA Sauna’s celebrated design process, Gesa Hansen states, “I always wanted to design a sauna. The common high aesthetic standards and the enthusiasm for timeless and durable design brought [KLAFS and I] together. Both sides had the courage, the spirit of innovation and the enthusiasm to break new ground. We were certain that something unique would emerge from this project – and we succeeded in doing so.”. Step by step, the designer and KLAFS perfected their concept in many small, detailed solutions over several months.

The GESA Sauna is offered by Guncast in its original black and white design as well as in the GESA Sauna Nature Variant. The GESA Sauna can be equipped with SUNSET backrest lighting system for discreet and glare-free illumination. Alternatively, customers can opt for the Polar Starry Sky lighting option. When it comes to KLAFS products, customisation is key. A variety of details and accessories can be added to your private oasis, ensuring your sauna experiences are consistently relaxing, healthy and specifically tailored to you.

Matching spa collection

The world of GESA extends beyond a luxurious sauna session. Snuggle up in the soft bedspread or wrap yourself in the matching sauna towel – Gesa Hansen, alongside KLAFS, developed a stylish fabric pattern that perfectly complements the look and feel of the stylish GESA Sauna with a reinterpretation of the Japanese wave motif.

Creative sauna craftsmanship

The unmistakable character of the GESA Sauna is manifested in the clear lines and the elaborately crafted design. A signature element of the design concept are the deep black wall panels, which are inspired by Yakisugi wood. During the traditional Japanese manufacturing process of Yakisugi, the wood is first charred and then quenched with cold water – a process that is reminiscent of the sauna itself. The replica of the Yakisugi wood takes up this extraordinary aesthetic. The discreet white wooden surfaces of the loungers and the cladding of the sauna heater contrast effectively with the black wood, giving a modern, elegant and stylish finish to the design.

The crowning glory of the GESA Sauna is the ceiling. The impressive 3D herringbone pattern is made by hand at KLAFS, using a complex process. Gesa Hansen explains, “The design of the ceiling was particularly important to me. So, you often lie in the sauna and look up. The beautiful look now invites you to dream.”. The insulated glass front of the GESA Sauna is not only a visual highlight – it also allows heat to be stored longer in the cabin, resulting in reduced energy consumption. 

About KLAFS

The KLAFS GESA Sauna is available today through Guncast. Find inspiration from our portfolio  KLAFS products or contact the Guncast team for a design consultation with our experts. You can also book an appointment at our showroom in Cheshire.