matteo thun completes the jod schwefelbad bathhouse in bad wiessee, germany

matteo thun & partners has completed a new bathhouse dubbed jod schwefelbad located on bad wiesse, a german area famous for its iodine-sulfur springs discovered in 1910. the project wanted to bring the 110-year-old tradition into our contemporaneity and to emphasize the uniqueness of germany’s strongest iodine-sulfur springs. the new bathhouse is therefore an homage to the healing powers of these natural springs, generating a holistic experience for body and soul using light, water and its perfectly embedded position in nature.

images by jens weber

for the jod schwefelbad bathhouse, matteo thun & partners took into consideration the concept of salutogenesis that claims people regenerate faster and better when they are in pleasant environments surrounded by nature. this determined both the architecture and the interiors which created an individual room sequence developed with the idea of going from public to very private — from the street to the forecourt, to the entrée, atrium, bathing cabin and finally to the cabin’s private terrace. the form of the building itself results from the shape and progression of this room sequence.

water and nature are two elements that will always accompany visitors throughout their visit to the jod schwefelbad bathhouse. the sky is visible from everywhere, whereby nature remains an introvert space. the interior, which is used for both medical and wellness applications, is intended to invite guests to linger and let go. the focus is on the water from the springs and is a central theme throughout the building. a sophisticated formwork with wooden slats offers plenty of daylight and a pleasant atmosphere. the rooms for individual applications have their own atrium, which ensures absolute privacy and creates the personal area with a feel-good character. for the ventilation and cooling of the bathhouse, a special system that uses the natural, night mountain air replaces a conventional air conditioning system.

overall, matteo thun’s design for the jod schwefelbad bathhouse is elegant and reserved, ensuring guests will have a place of rest, health, and relaxation.

project info:

name: jod schwefelbad
architects: matteo thun & partners
region: bad wiessee (de)
chronology: 2016 – 2020
building area: 1350 m
client: jod-schwefel-bad wiessee gmbh
services: architecture, interior