aesop’s immersive montreal bathhouse alternates between warm and cool spaces

in montreal, the recess thermal station by future simple studio integrates aesop into a sequenced bathing environment.

kat barandy January 11, 2026 4 min

Future Simple Studio designs the ‘Recess Thermal Station’

A newly opened bathhouse, the Recess Thermal Station designed by Future Simple Studio has arrived in wintry Montreal, developed by wellness brand Recess with Aesop. Instead of a single spa environment, the Recess Thermal Station unfolds as a sequence of distinct atmospheric spaces. The experience centers on a circular sauna room complemented by a lattice-lined lobby and a series of pools that shift gradually between heat and cold.

Located within an industrial shell in Griffintown, the space introduces a communal sauna and hydrotherapy experience shaped as a 75-minute circuit. Visitors move through a sequence of hot and cold zones that support circulation and offer clear orientation through changes in material, light, and sound.

recess thermal station montreal — images © Félix Michaud

a curated palette of restrained materials

Shaping the arrival to Montreal’s Recess Thermal Station, the team at Future Simple Studio designs an entry sequence which establishes a restrained tone. A cold-rolled steel counter sits slightly offset from a lower wash basin where hands are cleansed with Aesop formulations, bringing the act of arrival into direct contact with water and metal.

Behind, an aluminum lattice holds glass blocks and frames the Recess logo, lettered vertically in pairs. The lattice continues across the ceiling, while stainless steel shelving lines the wall with merchandise. This detail recalls clinical precision and the reflective depth associated with water.

From the reception, a gently ramped tunnel draws visitors inward. Dappled lighting animates the walls and ceiling, producing a moving pattern that references water reflections without distraction. The passage leads upward toward all-gender locker rooms to create a measured transition between street and interior that slows pace and attention.

minimalist spaces for calming wellness in montreal

Locker rooms continue the curated, pared-back palette throughout the Recess Thermal Station in Montreal. Slate floors ground the space, metal locker fronts read as durable and calm, and open wood shelving softens the room through touch and tone. Detailing remains tight, allowing materials to carry the experience.

Beyond the lockers, a small waiting area introduces a quieter register. Marble slab seating lines plaster walls illuminated by sconces from Bocci, casting a gentle glow that supports rest between cycles. The room functions as a pause point, balancing exposure and recovery.

the sauna and blue-toned cold plunge

The sauna is at the heart of the bathhouse. Circular in plan, it centers the heat source within a cylindrical drum filled with coals, while tiered slatted wood seating wraps the perimeter. Light slips from behind the benches and from an oculus above the drum to bring a warm, diffused atmosphere that fills the room evenly and emphasizes shared experience.

A sharp tonal shift follows in the cold plunge area. Here, a blue-lit pool accommodates up to twelve people, reframing cold immersion as collective rather than solitary. The scale and illumination heighten awareness of temperature and movement, encouraging brief exchanges among bathers as bodies adjust.

Frosted glass panels mediate between the plunge and a tiled lounge used for programming. Short flights of steps connect the space to both hot and cold zones, reinforcing circulation as a loop. A curtained back wall doubles as a surface for projections during art presentations, DJ sessions, and guided breathwork, all of which extends the bathhouse experience beyond hydrotherapy alone.