When my great-grandfather emigrated from Sweden in 1898, he changed our family name from Svan to Swan. I like to think some part of those coastal-dwelling Scandinavian roots found their way into me — first when I began sailing and working on boats over 15 years ago, and again when I built my first sauna during the quiet months of Covid.

I’ve owned businesses, built homes, and led all kinds of projects over the years — but saunas are where it all comes together for me. The design, the precision, the challenge of building something beautiful that feels right. For me, each sauna is a kind of refuge for the nervous system — a place where form meets function, and the body knows it's safe to let go.

It’s an old tradition, but one we need now more than ever.