BastuBaћar - A Nordic Ritual Reimagined for Malta’s Limestone Shores
(2025) AAHM10 20251Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Abstract
- BastuBaћar is a public sauna experience carved into the limestone coast of Sliema, Malta - a reimagining of the long-lost Chalet, once a beloved landmark of leisure and gathering. This project introduces an unfamiliar, experimental ritual to the Maltese Islands - a guided sauna and bathing experience open to all.
A synthesis of the Swedish word for sauna and the Maltese word for sea, the project is inspired by my time studying in Sweden, where sauna culture is an integral part of everyday life used to reset the mind, body and soul. In contrast, such a culture is virtually absent in Southern Europe, even though (contrary to common belief) sauna bathing isn’t only suited to colder climates. Studies suggest regular users in warmer regions... (More) - BastuBaћar is a public sauna experience carved into the limestone coast of Sliema, Malta - a reimagining of the long-lost Chalet, once a beloved landmark of leisure and gathering. This project introduces an unfamiliar, experimental ritual to the Maltese Islands - a guided sauna and bathing experience open to all.
A synthesis of the Swedish word for sauna and the Maltese word for sea, the project is inspired by my time studying in Sweden, where sauna culture is an integral part of everyday life used to reset the mind, body and soul. In contrast, such a culture is virtually absent in Southern Europe, even though (contrary to common belief) sauna bathing isn’t only suited to colder climates. Studies suggest regular users in warmer regions tolerate summer heat better while enjoying the same benefits, revealing its untapped potential in warmer places like Malta.
Set on the former site of the Chalet, a short-lived but iconic 20th-century dance hall and bathing platform, BastuBaћar revives the spirit of gathering through a different lens. Rather than replicating another fully privatized seaside bar or restaurant as has happened one too many times on swathes of public coastline, it proposes a wellness-oriented public space rooted in Nordic ritual and shaped by Mediterranean rhythms.
In a place that has been defined both literally and figuratively by the water that has surrounded it since its inception, naturally the Maltese already have strong cultural habits associated with their coastline and sea, from swimming rituals to the harvesting of salt and fish. However this thesis aims to explore the potential of introducing a new ritual - an experimental pilot project that bears the question: can we redefine the long established Maltese relationship with the coast through the introduction of something habitual as is so popular in the Nordics?
An in-depth exploration of research into the sauna and its benefits, seeking inspiration from remains of Ancient Roman bathing spaces on the islands together with Juhani Pallasmaa and Peter Zumthor’s knowledge on sensory-rich design as well as Alvaro Siza’s understanding of blurring the boundaries between architecture and landscape, all seek to answer this question, all the while tying it back into the local context through form, materiality and culture - a background that I have come to appreciate and respect all the more dearly as time passes.
Fusing echoes of Roman bath traditions with northern influences, the experience is designed as a guided, step-by-step ritual. A structured process of preparation precedes a sequence of saunas providing a range of atmospheres - from quiet and meditative to lively and conversational, culminating on a public beach platform with sunbathing decks, sea access, and a modest bar. The character of this space evolves throughout the day, from sunrise yoga, to relaxed swimming and sunbathing by day, ending with drinks and music as the sun sets.
On a site that evokes great nostalgia and holds a special place in the hearts of those who were lucky to experience it in its heyday, with a layered history reflective of Maltese culture and ideologies as well as a fascinating relationship to the beautiful waters that surround it, the Chalet is a great place to start to introduce those who are unfamiliar to Malta’s colourful context and history. BastuBaћar redefines the coast as a place for shared rituals, wellbeing and social connection - offering a new kind of cultural and social landmark for Malta’s shoreline 99 years after the Chalet first graced the islands. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9211113
- author
- Galea Souchet, Matthias LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- AAHM10 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- sauna, sea, beach, stone, Roman bath, bathing, architecture, Malta, Chalet, Sliema
- language
- English
- id
- 9211113
- date added to LUP
- 2025-09-01 13:43:27
- date last changed
- 2025-09-01 13:43:27
@misc{9211113,
abstract = {{BastuBaћar is a public sauna experience carved into the limestone coast of Sliema, Malta - a reimagining of the long-lost Chalet, once a beloved landmark of leisure and gathering. This project introduces an unfamiliar, experimental ritual to the Maltese Islands - a guided sauna and bathing experience open to all.
A synthesis of the Swedish word for sauna and the Maltese word for sea, the project is inspired by my time studying in Sweden, where sauna culture is an integral part of everyday life used to reset the mind, body and soul. In contrast, such a culture is virtually absent in Southern Europe, even though (contrary to common belief) sauna bathing isn’t only suited to colder climates. Studies suggest regular users in warmer regions tolerate summer heat better while enjoying the same benefits, revealing its untapped potential in warmer places like Malta.
Set on the former site of the Chalet, a short-lived but iconic 20th-century dance hall and bathing platform, BastuBaћar revives the spirit of gathering through a different lens. Rather than replicating another fully privatized seaside bar or restaurant as has happened one too many times on swathes of public coastline, it proposes a wellness-oriented public space rooted in Nordic ritual and shaped by Mediterranean rhythms.
In a place that has been defined both literally and figuratively by the water that has surrounded it since its inception, naturally the Maltese already have strong cultural habits associated with their coastline and sea, from swimming rituals to the harvesting of salt and fish. However this thesis aims to explore the potential of introducing a new ritual - an experimental pilot project that bears the question: can we redefine the long established Maltese relationship with the coast through the introduction of something habitual as is so popular in the Nordics?
An in-depth exploration of research into the sauna and its benefits, seeking inspiration from remains of Ancient Roman bathing spaces on the islands together with Juhani Pallasmaa and Peter Zumthor’s knowledge on sensory-rich design as well as Alvaro Siza’s understanding of blurring the boundaries between architecture and landscape, all seek to answer this question, all the while tying it back into the local context through form, materiality and culture - a background that I have come to appreciate and respect all the more dearly as time passes.
Fusing echoes of Roman bath traditions with northern influences, the experience is designed as a guided, step-by-step ritual. A structured process of preparation precedes a sequence of saunas providing a range of atmospheres - from quiet and meditative to lively and conversational, culminating on a public beach platform with sunbathing decks, sea access, and a modest bar. The character of this space evolves throughout the day, from sunrise yoga, to relaxed swimming and sunbathing by day, ending with drinks and music as the sun sets.
On a site that evokes great nostalgia and holds a special place in the hearts of those who were lucky to experience it in its heyday, with a layered history reflective of Maltese culture and ideologies as well as a fascinating relationship to the beautiful waters that surround it, the Chalet is a great place to start to introduce those who are unfamiliar to Malta’s colourful context and history. BastuBaћar redefines the coast as a place for shared rituals, wellbeing and social connection - offering a new kind of cultural and social landmark for Malta’s shoreline 99 years after the Chalet first graced the islands.}},
author = {{Galea Souchet, Matthias}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{BastuBaћar - A Nordic Ritual Reimagined for Malta’s Limestone Shores}},
year = {{2025}},
}