The Solar Egg

Social Sauna

Commissioned by Riksbyggen, an association that is working on the urban transformation of Kiruna, and inspired by the Arctic climate where light and darkness change according to seasons, The Solar Egg, of the Swedish duo Bigert & Bergström, it’s a giant golden sauna that represents rebirth and new opportunities for discussion .

This is because of Kiruna, a small town of Sweden is at the center of great controversies regarding the continuous extraction of iron from its subsoil, a cause of gain but also of great environmental concern.

Solar Egg is a social sculpture, where people can get together to reflect and discuss. In the Nordic countries, the sauna holds a key position as a space for warmth and reflection. Picking on on this tradition, Bigert & Bergström has developed a symbolic sculpture intended as a space for conversations and the exchange of ideas. The project refelcts the artists’ overall strategy in incorporating the climate in our experience of their art.

Solar Egg is made of wood and covered in a stainless golden mirror surface whose many facets reflect its surroundings. In the centre of the egg is a wood-fired, heart-shaped sauna stove made of iron and stone o symbolize a place where can be made vital decisions for our planet.