Wave-shaped Saunaravintola Laine to rise on Naistenlahti breakwater

Construction is about to begin on Saunaravintola Laine, a wave-shaped sauna-restaurant planned for the Naistenlahti breakwater in Ranta-Tampella. The project received its building permit last week, and groundworks will start in the coming weeks, the local paper Tamperelainen reported.

Developer Olli Rissanen says the plan took four years to reach the permit stage after a lengthy variance process. Ranta-Tampellan Sauna oy was registered this year, though the idea predates the company. The investor group includes five early Wolt employees and "an NHL player," he says, though he would not disclose names. The team hopes to open sometime next summer but warns that building on the lake is challenging.

The wood-clad, wave-shaped building will include two saunas, a 35-person lake-facing sauna and a 30-person harbor-side sauna, about 60 indoor seats, a covered terrace for 30 and an outdoor terrace for roughly 90. That gives more than 150 places in summer.

Bathing stairs will lead to both Näsijärvi and the sheltered harbor so visitors can swim year-round. An earlier floating pier idea was dropped because of the lake's rough conditions.

"We found a great spot we wanted to build on," he adds, noting the café and restaurant operator will be decided later.