Contrast Therapy Wellness Space

Si Sauna + Ice is a contrast therapy studio on the Sunshine Coast, designed around the simple sequence of heat, cold and recovery.

The project transformed a challenging tenancy into a calm and highly functional wellness environment, accommodating two saunas, five cold plunge pools, quality amenities and a communal recovery space. Rather than relying on trend-driven wellness aesthetics, the design focused on creating a sense of retreat through materiality, light and movement.

Visitors enter through a gently curved procession of hand-finished Otsumigaki walls that guide them from reception past the amenities and into the treatment spaces beyond. Existing western glazing, which introduced excessive heat and compromised privacy, was screened with custom Shoji panels fabricated in-house. The intervention softened daylight and established a quieter visual language throughout the studio.

Natural materials were used extensively to balance the operational requirements of a wet environment. Custom Blackbutt bench seating, also designed and built in-house, is supported by solid Tallowwood trunk sections, bringing warmth and texture to the communal spaces. Deep terracotta tiles, timber linings and softly illuminated plaster surfaces work together to create an environment that feels grounded and restorative without becoming themed.

CAB ROTO provided the full interior design service, construction documentation, building approval management and plumbing approval coordination for the project.

Photos: Cab Roto