alchemy 38 layers wood, stone, and light into a wellness retreat in new york

a sequence of spaces links mind, body, and spirit inside ALCHEMY 38

ALCHEMY 38 is a wellness retreat designed by Yasmine Ammar, located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The project is conceived as a sequence of spatial thresholds that organize therapeutic, architectural, and ritual functions within a continuous interior environment. Its holistic approach strives to create a reformative experience through a therapeutic program that aims to form and sustain new connections, much like the brain develops new neural pathways during psychotherapy.

The name ‘38’ reflects the underlying structure of the experience, where three corresponds to the triad of mind, body, and spirit, and eight refers to cyclical processes of renewal. Together, 38 defines a system of transition between states of being, between spaces, and between the internal and external self.

The design concept is built around three core pillars: the disciplined geometry of Manhattan’s grid, the transformative process of neurogenesis, and the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). The Manhattan grid is interpreted as a system of structure and order, echoing the role of psychotherapy in organizing thought and creating space for clarity and recalibration. Neurogenesis is understood as both transformation and connection, reflected in the project’s social and spatial dynamics. Shinrin-yoku informs the atmosphere, material palette, lighting, and technological integration, translating sensory immersion in nature into an architectural language of calm and restoration.

a therapy suite ‘Lumen’ shaped by soft atmospheric lighting for cognitive restoration | all images courtesy of Yasmine Ammar

wood, stone, lime plaster, and concrete shape a layered space

Materially, the project is grounded in a restrained palette of hinoki wood, travertine, basalt stone, lime plaster, and microcement flooring. These materials are selected for their tactile and sensory properties, as well as their durability and connection to natural systems. Integrated throughout the space are discreet smart technologies and lighting systems that regulate atmosphere, support circadian rhythms, and subtly shift thermal conditions across the day.

ALCHEMY 38, conceived by designer Yasmine Ammar, is staffed with practitioners experienced in balancing traditional and contemporary therapeutic methods. The spatial journey is conceived as a sequence of eight core ritual rooms and three supporting social spaces, each functioning as carefully calibrated thresholds, guiding guests through phases of release, restoration, and re-emergence. The program is distributed across three levels and comprises approximately 20,000 sqft of space.

an arrival | threshold space within a double-height Japandi lobby with integrated circadian lighting

a transitional corridor framed in hinoki and lime plaster, with rhythmic daylight and discreet lighting systems guiding spatial transition

the grove, a multisensory restoration chamber combining vibroacoustic therapy, immersive soundscapes and forest-derived aromatics to support nervous system recovery and sensory renewal

the grotto, a sculpted thermal sanctuary where heat, stone and stillness converge to purify the body, quiet the mind and foster meaningful human connection

project info:

name: ALCHEMY 38
designer: Yasmine Ammar

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

Yasmine Ammar

apr 27, 2026