As the wellness industry embraces innovation and holistic experiences – spotlighted, for example, at ISH 2025 – London-based Cake Architecture introduces Arc, a bold communal retreat in Canary Wharf, London that transforms contrast therapy into a social and sensory spectacle.
At the heart of the bold vision is a vast, 65-person sauna – the largest in the UK – paired with an amphitheatre-style lounge where guests can unwind in an atmosphere pulsing with dynamic rhythm.
As published in Dezeen, Arc’s philosophy is rooted in the science of contrast therapy, the invigorating practice of alternating between extreme heat and cold to activate the body’s stress and relaxation responses. Commissioned by hospitality innovators White Rabbit Projects, Cake Architecture was tasked with crafting a space that feels both elemental and avant-garde, drawing inspiration from ancient Roman baths as well as radical design movements led by Andrea Branzi, Archizoom, and Shiro Kuramata.
Image credit: Felix Speller
The design is an exploration of juxtaposition – hot meets cold, openness meets enclosure, nature meets artistry. Each area within Arc asserts its own identity while maintaining cohesion through a carefully curated material palette. The guest journey unfolds across four primary zones: a communal changing space, a circular lounge, a plunge room housing eight semi-sunken two-person ice baths, and the colossal sauna.
Naturally, materials play a starring role in this theatrical wellness experience. Deep-red terracotta and rich-blue dreadnought quarry tiles create a visual rhythm across surfaces, cladding everything from vanity units to tiered seating, sauna hearths, and ice baths. Warmth is introduced through natural wood, which wraps around key fixtures such as bespoke lighting installations, vanity counters, and the circular plunge bench.
The lounge serves as the social heart of Arc – a space for connection and quietness. Its tiered seating circles a striking monolithic cedar table, sculpted by Simon Gaiger, which anchors the room with a raw, organic presence.
Navigating the balance between openness and privacy posed a key design challenge. Traditional gendered changing rooms are replaced by private booths within a shared space, fostering inclusivity while maintaining discretion. Lighting plays a crucial role throughout, crafting an immersive ambience. In the changing rooms, an oversized suspended mirror with LED backlighting acts as a luminous focal point, while in the central lounge and plunge area, concealed lighting softens the timber-clad surfaces, heightening their tactile appeal.
At the core of the changing area sits a sculptural tiled vanity – a centrepiece Cake Architecture describes in Dezeen as a “ritualistic preparation space” that embodies Arc’s holistic ethos. Elsewhere, subtle lighting details – hidden LED strips, high-level spotlights, and a softly glowing mesh curtain lining the lounge – underscore the project’s meticulous attention to atmosphere.
Let’s face it, where else can you sweat alongside 65 strangers without it involving a public-speaking nightmare or an unfortunate rush-hour commute?
Main image: Felix Speller
