Sorrento Bathhouse

The design was guided by a simple yet powerful brief; a place of wellness and relaxation. The bathhouse draws inspiration from the privacy and atmospheric qualities of the Japanese onsen, as well as the volumetric quality of Philip Johnson’s Rothko Chapel. Collectively, these influences shaped a restrained yet immersive architecture that prioritizes experience over ornamentation. Luxury is not expressed through elaborate materials or intricate detailing but through the sculpting of space and light. The building’s simple form houses a carefully orchestrated sequence of rooms, culminating in the central room housing the spa. Here, a pyramidal ceiling and baffled skylight filter daylight in an ever-changing play of light and shade. By day, natural light animates the interiors, while at night, the space takes on a more introspective, cocoon-like quality.