With its barn-like form and finely tuned material palette, the Sorrento Bathhouse reframes the wellness retreat as an exercise in architectural precision.
Set beneath the canopy of a Tasmanian Red Gum and Moonah tree, the Sorrento Bathhouse distils the idea of a private wellness retreat into a sculptural, highly resolved architectural gesture. Conceived as a boutique day space for rest and ritual, the project prioritises spatial clarity over spectacle — a move that feels both timely and quietly radical.
Located in Sorrento, Victoria — south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula — the bathhouse sits within a coastal context known for its relaxed holiday rhythm. The positioning reinforces the project’s sense of retreat: secluded yet connected to its landscape, and attuned to the slower pace that defines the region’s seaside character.
From the outset, the design is driven by a pursuit of purity in both form and material. The exterior presents as a singular, barn-like volume — robust, composed and intentionally restrained. This confident simplicity establishes a strong visual identity while allowing the surrounding landscape to remain an active participant in the experience.
“The design was guided by a simple yet powerful brief: a place of wellness and relaxation,” says Robert Davidov of Davidov Architects. “The bathhouse draws inspiration from the privacy and atmospheric qualities of the Japanese onsen, as well as the volumetric quality of Philip Johnson’s Rothko Chapel.”
These influences shaped an immersive architecture that prioritises experience over ornamentation. Here, luxury is expressed through the sculpting of space and light rather than elaborate materials or intricate detailing.
Inside, the atmosphere shifts perceptibly. A tactile transition from concrete to warm timber veneer softens the interior, creating a calibrated sensory journey that unfolds gradually. “The building’s simple form houses a carefully orchestrated sequence of rooms, culminating in the central room housing the spa,” Robert says. Geometry and symmetry guide movement through the space, while carefully modulated natural light deepens the sense of immersion.
The pyramidal ceiling and baffled skylight filter daylight in an ever-changing play of light and shade. By day, natural light animates the interiors; by night, the space takes on a cocoon-like quality.
The brief extended beyond the expected sauna and jacuzzi. The designers envisioned a flexible, multi-purpose environment capable of accommodating everything from solitary retreat to informal social gathering — even serving as a pause point during a tennis match. This adaptability is handled with notable subtlety, embedded within the spatial planning rather than expressed through overt gestures.
Environmental performance is equally considered. A west-facing loggia shields the primary glazing while providing informal seating, and the pitched roof enhances thermal efficiency. Durable materials — bluestone tiling, concrete and sealed timber panelling — are selected for longevity in the coastal climate, reinforcing the project’s long-view approach to sustainability.
Light modulation emerges as the bathhouse’s most distinctive move. Sculptural ceilings and a custom baffled skylight choreograph daylight as it shifts across the day, preventing direct sun penetration while discreetly concealing services and artificial lighting. The result is an interior that feels atmospherically alive, yet visually calm.
Where many contemporary wellness spaces lean into overt luxury, the Sorrento Bathhouse finds richness in restraint. By stripping back to essential form, material and light, the project proposes a more introspective model of retreat — one grounded in spatial discipline, sensory awareness and quiet renewal.
