Spacetime Floatation Center

This project provides a new location and a reimagined concept for Spacetime, the oldest floatation center in the United States. The spa offers a method of deep relaxation within a pool of Epsom saltwater, and provides other wellness services, infrared saunas and a haliotherapy room. The design presents these treatments within an elemental and intimate setting that can support both communal and introspective experiences. The spa choreographs a transition from a busy urban context to an interior environment of calm and quiet. This movement between spaces, along with the repetition of material and geometric elements, creates a sense of continuity and expectation throughout the spa experience.

The entry is defined by a curved and textured plaster reception area that peels out from lime washed walls. The space is separated by layers of sheer curtains, which allow glimpses into the post-float lounge areas. Natural light is gradually mixed with architectural lighting elements to create a gradual shift from bright daylight to the warm and ambient illumination of the spa’s treatment rooms. A motif of curves, taken from the sculptural shape of the float vessels, emerges at different scales and materials from the half-round wood reeding of the custom furniture to the sweeping radius of the limewashed walls. With the use of simple and natural materials, the design creates an elemental setting that is neutral and open-ended, accommodating diverse expectations and practices, and supporting various experiences of the float treatment.

Within the floatation room, the sculptural saltwater vessel is set within a rectangular space accented by two alcoves for dressing and showering, marking the start and finish of the float treatment. The high-saline and high-humidity environment required careful material selection and detailing, along with a specialized cooling and heating system to ensure individualized comfort. Mechanical and accessory spaces, along with treatment rooms for other therapies, were carefully arranged between float rooms to allow for a private and seamless experience. After their session, clients can relax in a post-float lounge that is divided by movable curtains to create malleable spaces for individual contemplation or communal areas for small groups.

Publications

Sofia de la Cruz and Hannah Tindle. “Spa experiences in superlative surroundings, to revitalise mind and body” Wallpaper*, February 2, 2024.