From Caravan to Dream Sauna: The Ultimate Portable Harvia Sauna Retreat
Two years ago, photographer Samuel Ashcroft moved into a rented house in Sipoo, Finland - with one major drawback: no sauna. Lacking experience in sauna construction but driven by a deep longing for the crackle of real fire, the rush of hot steam, and the serenity of a private sauna, Samuel embarked on a bold DIY journey. His solution? Transforming an old caravan into a fully functional, mobile sauna.
A DIY sauna journey
As a professional photographer specializing in food photography, Samuel is accustomed to capturing beautiful moments. “I’m all about the aesthetics and details, which helped with the design and conceptualizing of my sauna project”, said Samuel.
Although Samuel has spent several years renovating and restoring timeworn log cabins around Finland, this new project was a different kind of challenge. “While I’ve worked with wood in the past, photography is my heart and soul. I’m used to focusing on light, angles, and composition, not carpentry.”
The creative spark: Building a sauna on wheels
Among the most pressing challenges Samuel faced was the issue of mobility. Renting his home meant he couldn’t construct any permanent features inside or outside the house. Creating a DIY sauna that was both portable and beautiful required some creativity. This creativity found its spark in an old, dilapidated caravan. “The caravan itself was beyond repair, but its trailer was still in good condition, and I saw great potential!”
By stripping the caravan of all but its most essential part – the trailer – Samuel had a blank canvas to begin designing his ultimate Harvia home sauna. Nevertheless, this innovative approach meant there were unique challenges to take on. “There were lots of things to consider when building a sauna on top of a caravan trailer – weight, balance, water drainage – I had to work through all these details.”
Despite these challenges, Samuel believes, in the end, it was relatively easy to adapt to the constraints of building upon a caravan trailer without compromising the relaxing sauna experience. “It’s not that hard to make things that look beautiful and work well – you just need inspiration and to plan a bit!”
It’s not that hard to make things that look beautiful and work well – you just need inspiration and to plan a bit!
Making the sauna beautiful and sustainable
With the sauna's portable foundations in place, the next phase of this innovative project could begin - seamlessly blending aesthetics with practicality in an eco-conscious design.
“There are a lot of off-cuts made at my work that would otherwise be scrap”, explained Samuel, “and so I made use of these materials to keep my DIY sauna project environmentally-friendly”.
Linseed oil paint and natural pigmented oil were used to treat the wood of the sauna to protect against moisture and temperature fluctuations, as well as create a pleasing aesthetic finish.
Why Harvia? Choosing the perfect sauna heater
Committed to a sustainable, eco-friendly sauna experience, Samuel chose the Harvia 22 GreenFlame wood-burning heater. Engineered for efficient, controlled combustion, it significantly reduces particulate emissions for a cleaner, greener burn. With its built-in water tank, the heater maximizes heat usage, warming water for washing and making each sauna session both eco-friendly and efficient.
“By far the easiest part of the project,” Samuel explained, “was choosing Harvia to supply the sauna heater.”
Beyond its performance, Samuel appreciates the heater’s large glass door, which offers a mesmerizing view of the flames - enhancing the peaceful ambiance and making every sauna session a moment of pure relaxation.
It’s not just Samuel who loves the experience - his fiancée and daughter have also embraced the warmth and comfort it brings. “My daughter and fiancée were both really happy with the result,” he shared, knowing their sauna has become a cherished family retreat.
Harvia asked what we’re all wondering - would Samuel, with no previous sauna-building experience, do it again? His answer was immediate:
“Absolutely! I’m already dreaming of my next sauna - in my own home! And, of course, the heater will be a Harvia,” he added.
