Mill River Sauna

As the inception of Hewn and Barter, this sauna project was created as a heartfelt gift to Devin Harper's mother-in-law, in gratitude for her support during the birth of their first child. Knowing she had always dreamed of having a sauna, they walked the property together, considering what mattered most—privacy, views, and a connection to water. After ruling out several locations, they discovered a steep riverbank in the woods overlooking a brook and catching a glimpse of Mills River. There, she shared the area's rich history, from British ships offloading ballast to the remaining crooked pine trees spared from being turned into masts. At that moment, they both knew it was the perfect spot.

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The design of the sauna evolved naturally from that day’s conversation. Hidden deep in the forest, it reveals itself only when approached closely, nestled just below eye level along the bank. A gabion basket filled with foraged ballast rocks grounds the structure in place, echoing the site's maritime history. Inside, a carefully placed window frames a solitary spruce tree, only revealing the river beyond once seated. Now, the mother-in-law uses the sauna weekly and often hosts her book club there in the summer, describing the experience as a meaningful family journey that brought them even closer together.

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