Future Simple Studio sculpts material-led bathhouse for Recess in Montreal

A new communal bathhouse in Montreal’s Griffintown reimagines the bathroom as a sequence of sensory environments, with Canadian studio Future Simple Studio designing an immersive sauna and hydrotherapy circuit for wellness brand Recess in partnership with Aesop.

GALLERY  

Structured as a 75-minute hot and cold journey, the experience is designed to stimulate circulation while encouraging a slower, more social form of restoration.

Guests move through a series of deliberately distinct spatial zones, each defined by its own material palette, temperature and light condition.

The journey begins in a light-filled reception space where a raw, cold-rolled steel counter and integrated basin introduce a restrained, clinical aesthetic softened by ritualised interaction. Here, guests sample Aesop products before entering the bathhouse proper. Behind the counter, an aluminium grid embeds glass blocks and the Recess logo, extending seamlessly across the ceiling to create a continuous architectural datum.

From the entrance, a gently ramped tunnel filters daylight into a dappled glow. The designers describe this threshold as a moment of decompression, a transition between the external world and the meditative interior sequence. The lighting references reflections on water, subtly signalling the shift in atmosphere ahead.

All-gender changing rooms continue the minimal language, with slate floors, metal lockers and open timber shelving. Beyond this, marble slab seating and textured plaster walls introduce a quieter pause point, illuminated by sculptural Bocci wall lights.

The core of the experience is the circular sauna, where tiered wooden slats wrap the perimeter and a central cylindrical heater anchors the room. Warm, diffused light filters through the timber and an overhead oculus, creating a softened, enveloping glow that reinforces the communal nature of the space.

A deliberate tonal shift leads to the cold plunge room, where blue light and reflective surfaces heighten contrast. The illuminated pool accommodates up to 12 people, reframing cold immersion as a shared ritual rather than an individual act. Adjacent rock-like walls conceal showers, with cove lighting casting deep shadows across textured surfaces.

Future Simple Studio describes the design as drawing from ancient bathing traditions distilled into a contemporary language. “The rhythm encourages presence and community, a social ritual that bridges individual and collective restoration,” the team says.

A frosted glass partition separates the hydrotherapy sequence from a flexible lounge space used for programming, from breathwork to DJ sets. Accessed from both hot and cold zones via tiled steps, it reinforces the project’s emphasis on fluid movement between rest, recovery and social connection.

As bathhouses gain momentum globally as alcohol-free social venues, Recess positions bathing not just as wellness practice, but as a shared architectural experience.

Images by Félix Michaud, courtesy of Recess via Dezeen

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