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As thermal therapy rituals gain momentum across North America, Adam Simms and Marilyne Gagné set out to create the first social hot–cold circuit experience in Montréal. Our role was to translate their vision into a physical oasis that encourages social interactions. The result is Recess: an ode to stillness, a call to pause amidst the pace of urban life; to reset, restore, and reconnect with oneself and others.

A visit to Recess is a structured, timed, and cyclical experience. Typically lasting 75 minutes, the circuit alternates between a 20-minute sweat session in a unique circular sauna, a two-minute cold plunge, and moments of conversation. The rhythm encourages presence and community — a social ritual that bridges individual and collective restoration.

The design draws from ancient bathing traditions distilled into an elemental, contemporary vocabulary. To emphasize the rhythm of contrast, we divided the plan into complementary zones, each with distinct material palettes and atmospheres.

Upon arrival, visitors are welcomed into a bright reception area where floor-to-ceiling windows filter natural light across an open aluminum ceiling grid. Directional lighting subtly guides the gaze toward the back of the room, where a frosted, back-lit glass-block wall softly signals arrival. In front stands a long reception desk clad in raw cold-rolled steel, anchoring the space and serving as a greeting point.

The unique experience at Recess is enhanced by their product partnership with Aesop. Ritual and scent are woven throughout the journey, with Aesop products thoughtfully integrated to complement the atmosphere and design language. While waiting, clients can sample products at the integrated custom designed sink, set against stainless-steel shelving that recalls the purity of clinics and the reflective depth of water — echoing the understated elegance of both brands

An elongated tunnel leads visitors away from the reception, wrapping around the space as dapples of light refract along its length while ascending the gentle ramp. The lighting effect references reflections of water, subtly hinting at the experience to come, before the passage opens into an all-gender locker room. Efficient yet subdued, this hushed space offers a moment of decompression — a quiet threshold between the external world and the meditative interior beyond. Designed as a transitional pathway, it gently attunes the body and mind to the ritual ahead.

Emerging from the locker rooms, visitors are immediately enveloped in warm, moody oak tones and golden restorative light that define the sauna zone. At its center sits a custom, 50-person circular sauna designed in collaboration with Sauna Concept — a sculptural cylinder seemingly dropped into a rectangular volume, its monumental radius allowing for guided group sessions. Performative in nature, these communal gatherings are actually transformative moments where one is encouraged to breathe, connect and feel with other people. Surrounding the sauna, stone benches invite conversation, while a tea station offers hydration and quiet reflection before the next phase of the circuit.

After the guided thermal experience, visitors exit through the back and are gently led to the showers, a cavernous, dimly lit space that evokes the feeling of standing beneath a cool, natural rainfall. Hidden behind a sculptural stone wall, the shower sequence restores equilibrium before entering the cold-plunge area.

Unlike traditional single-person tubs, our approach imagines a unique custom cold-plunge pool that invites groups of twelve to submerge together in a shared bath beneath cool blue light — a visual and sensory reflection of the plunge itself. Natural stone slab benches heighten the atmosphere, grounding the body in contrast and renewal.

After emerging from the plunge, the body’s heart rate slows and circulation recalibrates, triggering the release of endorphins and reducing inflammation — physiological responses known to boost recovery, elevate mood, and strengthen the immune system. Visitors are then invited to gather in the lounge space, passing through a corridor of frosted glass panels that diffuse the light into a soft, ethereal glow.

Beyond lies a cocoon-like room encircled by layers of curtains that act as a canvas, receiving and reflecting projection, transforming the space into an alternative screening room. This multipurpose lounge was designed to host Recess’ rotating program of immersive art installations, DJ sets, and guided breathwork sessions, extending the sensory contrast into the realm of sound, movement, and community.

1.  Entry
2.  Reception
3.  Storage
4.  Tunnel
5.  Locker room
6.  Towels
7.  Sauna zone
8.  Sauna
9.  Showers
10.  Cold plunge
11.  Lounge
12.  Exit