What is the 'sauna core' aesthetic, and why are AI brands obsessed with it? From sleek gadgets to minimalist interiors, the visual language of vertically slatted wood seems to be popping up everywhere. Whether you call it Japandi or sauna core, it’s unavoidable – but not exactly beloved by social media users.
One Twitter user described it as 'one of the worst trends in modern architecture,' while another called it 'soulless and low effort.' The theory goes that this look minimizes labor and material costs, making it a cost-effective choice for tech companies seeking to soften their clinical feel. But with every dominant design trend comes overexposure, and social media is rarely forgiving.
'Sauna core' might not disappear overnight, but if the internet has its way, the wooden slat could soon join other unmistakable (and badly aged) timestamps of the decade, such as millennial pink. As with every dominant design trend, overexposure may be its downfall.
