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Pust: A Space to Breathe
What do a doctor, a property developer and a law student have in common? The answer, it turns out, is a desire to turn the northern Norwegian city of Tromsø into the ‘coolest place on the planet’. Somewhat ironic, given that their mission got underway with the development of one of the hottest spots in the town: a floating sauna. Located on the calm waters of the Tromsø harbour, Pust (‘breathe’ in Norwegian) is perfectly placed in the beating heart of the city. This central position, as co-owner Erik Stange tells me, was deliberately chosen to encourage locals to have a sauna during an invigorating lunch break.
As these projects go, it’s been a remarkably quick turnaround. Stange, along with Pust’s two other owners, Andreas Arild and Leif Smith, conceived the idea just last summer. Inspired by similar concepts in Oslo, and over the border in Finland, they felt the need for “a place where the local community could meet, and where tourists could view Tromsø through the eyes of the locals”. Pust was open for business just over a year later. Hand built on-site using locally sourced wood by Ekte, a Tromsø-based company, with a design based on the traditional Hjell of northern Norway (a triangular, wooden frame used to hang freshly caught fish), it’s clear that a lot of effort has been made to ensure Pust keeps its roots close to home.
This connection has made the sauna successful. Amidst the huge reduction in tourism this year, business at Pust is booming.As Andreas explains, “we looked upon this time as an opportunity to get Pust established in the local community. If we had just dropped this thing when tourism was at its peak, we might have had trouble integrating everything. But actually, the timing has been perfect for us”.
Photo: Oli Jennings
I had to wait over a week before a spot in the bookings opened and I was able a visit. The wait, however, was totally worth it. Once you’re inside, the outside world feels a million miles away, even if the windows allow you to gaze out over the water towards the iconic Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) and Arctic Bridge, right across to the looming silhouette of Tromsdaltinden. Designed to hold up to twenty people, current restrictions mean just eight people are allowed inside at any one time. You also have the option to book the sauna out for private events, which, as Andreas Arild told me, is becoming increasingly popular. When I asked what sort of things people book Pust for, he replied that it’s used for “birthdays, work events and student societies. We also get families who just want to use it as a nice way to spend the evening together”.
“The outside world feels a million miles away, even if the windows allow you to gaze out over the water towards the iconic Arctic Cathedral and Arctic Bridge, right across to the looming silhouette of Tromsdaltinden.”
The real fun starts when you embrace the Finnish tradition of coupling a visit to the sauna with a dip in the surrounding icy waters. The best approach is not to hesitate and just throw yourself into the water as soon as you exit. Sure, the shocking contrast between the heat of the sauna and the jolt of your body is enough to take your breath away, but there’s no more exhilarating feeling to be had. Such is the adrenaline that we did it several times. Andreas, having grown up in Hammerfest and somewhat more accustomed to the cold than I, tells me that the traditional method would be to head for a dip in the water before entering the sauna, but I didn’t quite feel brave enough for that yet.
As a way to unwind and relax with everything that’s been happening in 2020, I genuinely can’t think of a better option. There are no signs of the popularity of Pust waning anytime soon, so you’ll have to book early if you want to visit. And if you want to make an evening of it and invite your friends, what’s stopping you? Time it right and you might even get to watch the Northern Lights dance away in the sky above.
Information on pricing and opening times can be found on the Pust website, I hugely recommend taking a long sit and a dip!
Feature image: Dan Cromb