Old meets new in this boutique day spa
Written by
12 November 2023
•
4 min read
In the heart of Mullumbimby in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, an old bank has been transformed into an immersive and social bathing and dining experience.
Offering a modern twist on a traditional European bathhouse with a hint of the Byron Bay area’s much-loved coastal charm, The Banya bathhouse is a fusion of old and new. Historic features such as the exposed masonry structure have been retained, paired with earthy tones and modern luxuries. Inspired by the 1920s and 1930s Art Deco interior style, curvaceous leather seating features in the dining area, along with brass and marble accents.
Every detail has been carefully considered and curated – and the addition of a modern lift is no exception.
Leaders in products that provide greater mobility and accessibility, Savaria offers a wide product portfolio spanning residential elevators, commercial lifts, stairlifts and ceiling lifts. Working closely with clients and building professionals on every residential and commercial project, the team’s expertise helped The Banya’s designer bring the vision to life – one that is both functional and sympathetic to the building’s heritage details.
“Savaria was proud to partner with Swell Building for the restoration and conversion of the 1920s bank into The Banya,” says Bernard Edwards, national sales and marketing manager at Savaria.
“The Banya bathhouse provided a unique challenge for Savaria. Our team had the task of providing a lift for the project to make the bathhouse accessible to all, and a dumbwaiter to take food to the upper level.”
As part of the restoration, the building was entirely refurbished to ensure everything met the current construction code – including the construction of the shafts that the lifts were installed into.
In projects such as this, Savaria provides the dimensions needed for the lift that is to be installed, explains Edwards.
“We work with the builder as far as project management goes to make sure the shaft is being built correctly. We are there if they have any questions about where the lift is going to be attached, what power we require and what we need to facilitate the installation of the lift.
“It’s very much a collaboration with the builder to make sure they know what we need so that it’s possible to install the lift.”
Our team had the task of providing a lift for the project to make the bathhouse accessible to all, and a dumbwaiter to take food to the upper level.
The lift has been put in for compliance purposes, but the clients and designer have decided to also make it look as attractive as possible – they decided to make a real feature of it.
An important aspect of the lift installation was for it to blend seamlessly with the rest of the design. With the successful installation of the lift, this was made possible with a cosmetic brass cladding surrounding the lift shaft.
“Underneath is the shaft which is structurally strong enough and suitable for us to install the lift. The brass skin was applied to the outside of the lift, purely as a cosmetic finish that has no impact on the operation of the lift,” says Edwards.
Effortlessly complementing the rest of the space, this is something that can be done in all commercial projects to take the visual appeal of a lift to the next level – something Edwards encourages all architects and designers to consider.
“We’re very happy with how the lift has been finished and presented. The lift has been put in for compliance purposes, but the clients and designer have decided to also make it look as attractive as possible – they decided to make a real feature of it,” says Edwards.
“It’s a great enhancement to the building and the brass ties in nicely with the dark timber parquetry flooring and exposed brickwork.
“We are committed to providing the highest quality solutions for all manner of projects, including those with a more unusual design.”
Learn more about Savaria’s residential elevators, commercial lifts, stairlifts and ceiling lifts on ArchiPro.