Crystal Sauna Sparks Curiosity in Skellefteå

The pink crystal sauna by the Skellefte River has attracted attention both in Sweden and internationally. Through publications in the fields of architecture, design, energy, and travel, Crystal Sauna is reaching new audiences—while also sparking curiosity about Skellefteå as a destination.

Crystal Sauna was created by the artist duo Bigert & Bergström and inaugurated during Society Expo 2026. The work is a permanent part of WasteLand, the art and knowledge park located on the former industrial site at Scharins.

After 17 years of soil remediation, the area has taken on a new role as a place for art, knowledge, recreation, and discussions about the future. In the center of the area stands the Crystal Sauna—shaped like a giant lithium crystal and clad in pink mirror-finished steel that reflects the Skellefte River and the surrounding landscape. Since its opening, the combination of art, the site’s history, the energy transition, and sauna culture has garnered attention far beyond Skellefteå.

From Architecture to Energy and Travel

The international platform for architecture and design, Designboom, has highlighted the Crystal Sauna and the story behind the project—where lithium’s role in the energy transition intersects with the site’s industrial history and the transformation of WasteLand.

Electrive, which covers electric mobility and the energy transition, has also highlighted the technical solution that allows the Crystal Sauna to be heated using energy from an electric car battery.

Visit Sweden, in turn, has promoted WasteLand and the Crystal Sauna internationally as a Swedish visitor experience where contemporary art, industrial history, nature, and sauna culture converge.

Swedish media have also followed the development of WasteLand and Crystal Sauna, from the work on the previously contaminated industrial site to the grand opening during Society Expo 2026. This means that the story of the place reaches people with diverse interests. Some find their way here through architecture and art, others through electrification and sustainable development, and still others through travel and experiences.

Why does attention matter?

The city continues to undergo a societal transformation. For this development to continue, Skellefteå needs to remain relevant and attractive to people who already live here, while also sparking interest among those who might consider visiting, moving here, working here, or developing and establishing businesses here.

This was also a key starting point for Society Expo 2026. The initiative was created to contribute to and highlight Skellefteå’s rapid and sustainable social transformation and to serve as a catalyst for continued development. Among the long-term benefits are increased visibility and understanding of Skellefteå’s societal transformation, greater interest in the region, a more robust talent pool and an influx of new residents, as well as a strengthened sense of pride and community advocacy.

Crystal Sauna is an example of how an initiative from Society Expo can continue to contribute to these ambitions even after the expo itself has ended.

For residents, Skellefteå has gained a new public space and an experience that can foster pride and curiosity about their own community. For visitors, WasteLand and Crystal Sauna offer yet another reason to discover Skellefteå. And as the story reaches international audiences in fields such as architecture, energy, and sustainable development, it simultaneously contributes to the image of Skellefteå as a place where transition, creativity, and innovation take physical form.

A legacy that continues beyond Society Expo

Society Expo 2026 was not intended to be an endpoint. A key part of the initiative was that the projects, collaborations, and outcomes would continue to create value over time. The project plan also stipulates that, after the expo, the organization must manage and further develop the outcomes so that the benefits remain relevant and sustainable.

WasteLand and Crystal Sauna are examples of initiatives that live on after Society Expo. And every time Crystal Sauna sparks curiosity outside of Skellefteå, it also creates an opportunity for more people to discover the area—as visitors, future residents, or through their work and entrepreneurship.