Hypothesis
How do we promote healthy decision making within the sphere of mental rather than physical health?
Instead of urging our students to exercise in order to be health, what if we provided an opportunity for students to slow down? What if we could provide better opportunities for students to bond through the space on campus?

• Why

Every one in three University of Michigan students suffers from a mental health issue. Michigan is such a cold state, students regularly suffer with seasonal depression, and it can be very hard for students who aren’t used to the cold and lack of sun.

Finland is also a very cold country, but on the other hand, Finland has been named the happiest country for the Seventh year in a row. Finland has a constant dedication to the social, mental, and physical health of their citizens. Saunas are so important to life in Finland, that there is one sauna for every two people.

• How

This design intervention will focus on research papers on the importance of physical and mental health and case studies of the effects of sauna spaces.  The high temperature of saunas raises our body temperatures and heart rates, readying the user for a long, deep sleep. The low light levels in a sauna also prepare our eyes for good rest, and an activity such as engaging with a sauna would be a great activity to participate in the evenings before bed.

It is so important to have low light for circadian rhythm and brain health.

• What

The proposed design for a sauna would involve the temporary use of a simple social space on campus for a pop-up sauna format. There are a couple possible places, including near palmer field which is a very social outside area next to many student dormatories. 

• So What

Loneliness as an epidemic, how social structures are affected by our physical boundaries. How we respect our environment playing a role in our own health, focusing on our level of interaction with the external world: What it means to leave the home(COVID-19).   

The United States Surgeon General says: “social infrastructure that promotes social connection is critical to advancing key aspects of community health, resilience, safety, and prosperity” (Office of the Surgeon General). Our physical environment can cause loneliness, but it can also cause the effect of connection, which is why saunas ought to be considered as one of these future infrastructures that benefits our campus health.

Finland is now dedicating the year 2024 to sleep and promoting brain health, and we should follow their example and start thinking about the brain health of our students.