A note from our founder, Mark, on how the Oblique sauna came to be:
"VIM began with a very simple idea: to offer beautiful, traditional saunas that reminded people of sculpture and architecture. What if a sauna could look a piece of art nestled in your backyard?
Our original mood boards had a lot of midcentury coastal cabins - those compact structures that catch the eye with a juxtaposition of materials and shapes, blending not-quite rectangular shapes with asymmetrical window layouts and unexpected rooflines. You’ll find these timeless cabins in Neskowin, Oregon, Sea Ranch, California, and along the coasts of Denmark. They are treasured for generations. What if we could combine that magic with an excellent sauna design?
Through a serendipitous introduction from a friend, I met the owner of Superior Saunas, David Dragseth. We immediately connected over a mutual love of midcentury design and, of course, the enduring benefits of a traditional sauna routine.
David introduced me to Superior's Director of Production and Special Projects, Justus Benson, who’s a master of innovation and technical problem solving in addition to having lots of design ideas of his own. David started sketching some shapes in his journal, and the three of us began a collaborative approach that blended a stunning shape with the very important physical design of a sauna for optimal heat distribution, airflow, and ergonomic comfort.
David and Justus had been experimenting with cross-laminated timber (CLT), a relatively recent timber innovation that offers incredible strength and versatility versus stick-frame construction. When combined with aromatic western red cedar on the inside and thermally treated woods from Thermory in Estonia on the outside, the result is a resilient, strong structure with an iconic roofline that leads to a very good sauna experience. The löyly is strong, yet gentle, and it feels like you’re sitting in a tree.
The Oblique is made of precision panels that are assembled together at the final site in just a few hours, meaning installation is possible in locations not easily reached by a crane or forklift.
We are delighted to partner with Superior Sauna in offering the Oblique to sauna lovers across the USA. Superior's multi-decade experience in engineering, fabrication, and delivery of saunas is the perfect pairing for the VIM vision of beauty and performance."
The first limited batch of Oblique saunas are available for delivery beginning in early December.