ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the development of Sauna Dialogues, a novel participatory, future-oriented research method developed from futures workshops. Rooted in the principles of critical heritage studies, this method responds to calls for multidisciplinarity, the democratisation of heritage, and experimentation with innovative data collection methods. Sauna Dialogues combine facilitated conversation with traditional sauna healing practices. The Finnish sauna is explored as a site for corporeal and multi-sensory forum for dialogue, communal meaning-making, sharing, and envisioning heritage futures. The chapter explores the experience of engaging in discussions and imagining heritage futures within the heritage setting itself, reflecting on the unutilised potential of heritage in addressing futures.
