Architecture studio BoND has completed the interiors for Saint, a private sauna and cold-plunge destination in Chelsea, New York, using what the practice describes as “the logic of a bento box” to maximise functionality within a compact footprint.
Located on West 29th Street, Saint was conceived by co-founders Alex Feldman and Amanda Taylor-Hensen as a wellness space that prioritises privacy, calm and contemplation. Notably, BoND began developing the project’s identity and interiors in 2024 before a site had been selected.
“From the outset, the vision was clear: a place of genuine quiet, with the warmth and ease of a residential interior rather than the clinical remove of a typical wellness environment,” said the team.
Compact planning and atmospheric materials define Saint
The 1,100-square-foot (102-square-metre) interior accommodates four private wellness pods, each containing a dry sauna, a cold-plunge bath, a shower, and a dressing area. In addition, the layout includes a lobby, restroom and back-of-house facilities.
Rather than relying on conventional circulation, BoND organised the plan through interconnected volumes. Accordingly, material transitions define each zone while eliminating unnecessary corridor space.
“The result is a sequence that feels intimate and considered rather than constrained,” the team added.
Because the interior has no access to natural daylight, the architects embraced its enclosed character. They therefore collaborated with lighting studio EMY After Dark to create a dramatic lighting scheme that heightens texture and spatial depth.
The material palette draws from both Japanese onsen culture and Nordic sauna traditions. Slate tiles wrap the wet areas, including the cold-plunge baths, while concealed horizontal lighting accentuates the stone’s natural texture above the plunge pools. Elsewhere, terrazzo forms monolithic floating vanities and flooring, while stainless steel and fritted glass introduce reflective surfaces and layered visual effects.
Residential warmth contrasts with minimalist wellness spaces
Inside the sauna rooms, pale-grained cypress provides warmth, fragrance and a tactile finish. Meanwhile, walnut lines the dressing areas, creating an atmosphere more commonly associated with residential interiors than commercial wellness facilities.
“Of all the spaces within the pods, the dressing areas are among the most quietly accomplished: moments of genuine architectural care that give guests a place to gather themselves before returning to the city,” the team said.
Custom terrazzo vanities and fritted glass partitions further enrich the compact interiors by introducing texture, depth, and softly diffused light. Consequently, each wellness pod balances functional efficiency with a calm architectural character.
Founded by Noam Dvir and Daniel Rauchwerger, BoND continues to develop interiors that combine refined material palettes with carefully choreographed spatial experiences. With Saint, the studio extends that approach into New York City’s growing wellness sector, where architecture increasingly shapes the experience of bathing, relaxation and restoration.