London-based Cake Architecture has completed Arc, a cutting-edge wellness facility in Canary Wharf. Designed for hospitality specialist White Rabbit Projects, the space blends contrast therapy with a social, nightclub-inspired atmosphere.
At the heart of Arc is the UK’s largest sauna, accommodating 65 people. Alongside it, the facility features a circular lounge, a communal changing area, and a plunge room with eight semi-sunken ice baths. These elements create an immersive wellness experience that contrasts heat and cold, activating the body’s natural stress and relaxation responses.
Design Inspired by History and Modernity
Cake Architecture drew inspiration from the grand Roman baths of Caracalla and the visionary works of Andrea Branzi, Archizoom, and Shiro Kuramata. The design plays with contrasts—hot versus cold, open versus enclosed, and natural versus manmade.
“The challenge was to bridge the clean, health-focused world of wellness with the hedonistic energy of dance floors and nightclubs,” said Hugh Scott Moncrieff, Creative Director at Cake Architecture.
A unified material palette enhances the space, combining red terracotta and deep-blue dreadnought quarry tiles for a consistent aesthetic. Wood elements, seen in the sauna interiors and bespoke lighting, add warmth and contrast.
An Immersive and Social Experience
Arc’s lounge serves as a central gathering space where guests can unwind with water or herbal tea. Its amphitheater-style seating surrounds a monolithic cedar table, sculpted by Simon Gaiger. Meanwhile, the changing area reimagines traditional layouts, replacing gendered sections with private booths in a shared space. A sculptural tiled vanity in the center reinforces the spa’s theme of ritual and transformation.
Dramatic Lighting and Sensory Depth
Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the mood. An oversized mirror with LED backlighting highlights the changing room, while concealed light sources in the lounge and plunge room enhance the warmth of wooden surfaces. Spotlights and hidden LED strips subtly illuminate textured materials, including the lounge’s mesh curtains.
Cake Architecture’s holistic design approach transforms Arc into more than a wellness facility—it’s an experience that merges relaxation with social connection, redefining modern spa culture.
