A new wellness space in Paris pairs the largest sauna in France with icy plunge pools and atmospheric interiors. Designed by Toronto studio Futurstudio, Sant Roch reimagines ancient bathing rituals through contemporary architecture and sensory design.
Paris has welcomed a striking new addition to its growing wellness scene with the opening of Sant Roch, a design-led contrast therapy space in the city’s 1st arrondissement. Positioned opposite the Tuileries Gardens, the new destination pairs deep heat and icy immersion within a carefully choreographed architectural setting.
Founded by Paris-based couple Jules and Chloé Bouscatel — also behind the boutique fitness collective Monday Sports Club — Sant Roch extends their interest in contemporary wellness culture into a more reflective, sensory territory.
Designed by Toronto-based practice Futurstudio, the 400-square-metre space draws inspiration from the ancient bathing rituals of Roman-era Lutetia. Spread across two levels, the project translates these historic precedents into a contemporary environment defined by material richness and atmospheric restraint. Timber surfaces anchor the interiors, creating warmth and tactility while soft lighting compositions and immersive soundscapes guide visitors through the sequence of spaces.
At the centre of the experience is the sauna — the largest in France — which occupies a generous 60 square metres. From here, visitors move between zones of heat and cold, including five plunge pools cooled to between 3°C and 8°C. These dramatic temperature shifts form the basis of contrast therapy, a wellness practice gaining traction globally.
At Sant Roch, the experience can be self-guided or structured through the centre’s signature method, led by trained practitioners. These sessions layer breathwork, sound immersion, meditation and gentle movement into the ritual of heating and cooling, transforming the sequence into something closer to a guided sensory journey.
Neither a traditional spa nor a typical fitness space, Sant Roch positions itself somewhere between the two — a carefully designed environment dedicated to restoration. In a city known for its cultural institutions and historic bathhouses, it offers a contemporary interpretation of collective wellness, where architecture, atmosphere and ancient ritual combine to support physical and mental release.
