Redefining Wellness: The Sense of Self Bathhouse

The Sense of Self Bathhouse, a collaborative project by Setsquare Studio, Chamberlain Architects, and Hearth Studio, is a revolutionary space that transcends traditional wellness paradigms. Located in Melbourne’s inner-north within a converted warehouse, this bathhouse offers a holistic and design-centric approach to self-care.

Embracing Healthy Hedonism

At the core of Sense of Self Bathhouse is the concept of healthy hedonism—a philosophy that advocates for indulgence in self-care without guilt. The space features a range of amenities including a large mineral bath, Hammam Steam room, Finnish sauna, a light-filled vegetated courtyard, and a cold plunge pool, providing guests with a comprehensive wellness experience.

Redefining Well-being

Unlike conventional wellness spaces that often focus on beauty and solitude, Sense of Self redefines well-being as a communal, empathetic, and restorative experience. It encourages guests to connect with themselves and their environment, fostering healing, relaxation, and a sense of community.

Designing for Every Body

A key aspect of the design philosophy is inclusivity. The layout eliminates gender-specific areas and prioritizes accessibility, offering communal change rooms, toilets with ambulant options, and communal bathing areas with diverse entry points. The design sequence revolves around the rituals of bathing, enhancing the connection between body and space.

Inspired by Water

Drawing inspiration from global bathhouse cultures, the design essence revolves around water—the ultimate symbol of movement, growth, and nourishment. Materials and forms reflect water’s properties such as refraction, power, buoyancy, and erosion, creating a dynamic and immersive environment.

Elemental Aesthetics

The bathhouse’s aesthetics play with light refraction through decorative glass and digital projections, showcasing the power of water through features like water walls and flowing fabric curtains. Elemental materials like concrete, travertine, and sandstone age naturally, embodying the concept of erosion and renewal. Vegetation further enhances the restorative essence of water within the space.

Cultivating Communal Bathing

Sense of Self Bathhouse aspires to redefine communal bathing culture in Australia, offering a space where individuals can indulge in self-care, connect with others, and experience holistic well-being in a design-led and inclusive environment.

In essence, Sense of Self Bathhouse represents a paradigm shift in wellness design, embracing hedonism, inclusivity, and a deep connection to nature’s elemental forces to create a sanctuary for self-care and communal healing.