yinjispace

ARCHITECTURE
Davidov Architects
INTERIOR
Davidov Architects
PHOTOGRAPHY
Timothy Kaye
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Sorrento Bathhouse is located in a shady area of Victoria, quietly and firmly keeping watch over a quiet place. Davidov Architects took the coastal barns as the design inspiration and responded to the local rustic architectural language. The exterior of the building is composed of wood and stone together, resembling the common houseboats and storage sheds by the seaside, simple yet powerful.

The path leading to the bathroom must pass through an ancient Moonah tree, creating a transition design from movement to stillness, allowing people to gradually sink from the outside hustle and bustle into the inner tranquility. The building greets people with corridors, which is like an invitation and also a transition, facilitating the adjustment of one's mood.

The main body of the building adopts the form of gable walls, while the interior is constructed with carefully organized rooms to create circulation routes, eventually leading to the main space - the spa room. The roof is a pyramid-shaped raised structure, reminiscent of the Rothko Church designed by Philip Johnson and the meditative atmosphere of a traditional Japanese hot spring. Natural light seeps through the skylight in a gentle and changing way, making the space show different expressions as time goes by.

Davidov Architects combined the needs of the clients and enabled the bathroom to have not only the basic sauna and spa functions, but also complete complex functions such as storage, bathing and socializing, making it a private convalescent place and an extension of family life. Although the flexibility of space is given priority, the final presentation still has a strong subjective purpose, creating a rich sensory experience as if one were on the spot.

The interior uses locally purchased materials and a convenient construction system to effectively control costs. Considering the coastal environment, durable and low-maintenance materials are given priority. Therefore, the bluestone tiles used both indoors and outdoors, as well as the cedar benches and moisture-proof veneer panels, are all highly durable without affecting the texture of the building. All materials participate in the creation of the atmosphere in their most authentic form, giving the whole a simple sense of time and a warm body sensation.

As night falls, the bathhouse transforms from a vibrant space in the sunlight into a serene and introspective place for meditation. The gentle and reserved light responds to the silence of the night, elevating the entire building to a spiritual lighthouse. For the residents, it is both a place of rest and a place of ritual leading to self and returning to one's origin.

Out of respect for the original site and natural ecology, the building is gracefully located beneath two tall local tree species. This not only avoids the interference of complex root systems but also ingeniously borrows the scenery, making the building seem to grow out of the ground. The continuous paving method further blurs the boundary between the interior and exterior, keeping people always in nature.

Sorrento Bathhouse is not only a static building, but also meets the multiple needs of its users - one can either meditate alone or spend time with family and friends. It encourages people to stop and integrate into daily life in a delicate and perceptive way, gradually initiating a dialogue about the senses, the body and time. Every wall and every beam of light within the space is a tribute to "slowness" and a profound response to the contemporary pace of life.

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