Recess Thermal Station and Aesop Transform the Wellness Experience With a New Industrial Sanctuary
Located in Montréal, Canada, this Future Simple Studio-designed bathhouse merges an industrial aesthetic with premium wellness.
Summary
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Located in Griffintown, this Future Simple Studio-designed bathhouse merges an industrial aesthetic with premium wellness, featuring Aesop as the official amenities partner
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The space centers on a 75-minute communal circuit, guiding visitors through a sculptural sequence of a circular cedar sauna, a blue-lit collective cold plunge, and slate-toned recovery zones
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Blending clinical precision with sensory warmth, the facility functions as a cultural hub, hosting art projections, DJ sessions, and guided breathwork alongside traditional hydrotherapy
In the heart of Montréal’s industrial Griffintown, a new vision of communal wellness has emerged. Recess Thermal Station, a meticulously designed bathhouse conceived by Future Simple Studio, offers a “designer’s dream” escape from the Canadian winter. Developed by the wellness brand Recess with Aesop serving as the official product and amenities partner, the space is a masterclass in restrained, sensory-driven architecture.
The experience is centered around a curated 75-minute hydrotherapy circuit. The journey begins at a cold-rolled steel reception desk, where guests engage in a tactile arrival ritual: cleansing their hands in a low washbasin using Aesop formulations. This immediate interaction with metal and water sets the tone for the journey ahead. The interior language is one of clinical precision, featuring aluminum lattices, glass blocks, and stainless steel shelving that evoke the reflective depth of a pool.
A dappled, light-filled tunnel leads visitors toward the heart of the facility. The sanctuary features a striking circular sauna, where slatted wood seating wraps around a central cylindrical hearth, illuminated by a soft overhead oculus. Following the heat, guests transition to a dramatic, blue-lit cold plunge designed for up to twelve people, transforming a typically solitary shock into a shared social moment. The circuit concludes in a tiled lounge that hosts everything from ambient DJ sets to guided breathwork. By blending the raw aesthetic of an industrial shell with the warmth of slate, marble, and wood, Recess Thermal Station redefines the modern bathhouse as a temple of both recovery and high design.
Recess Thermal Station
217 Rue Young
Montréal, QC
H3C 2E9, Canada
