Located just a block from New York’s Union Square, the Altar is a new health club that brings together modern recovery modalities and the communal rituals of traditional bathhouses.
Designed by Marsollier Villacorta, with creative direction from photographer and cinematographer Stuart Winecoff, the space guides visitors on an intentional path. Guests enter through a wood-paneled reception on 17th Street, then move through corridors and a subterranean vestibule before reaching a granite-clad atrium.
The procession emphasizes subtle transitions: from concrete to hammered stone underfoot, and from the bustle of the street to an immersive, communal environment. Rounded forms and enfilades encourage circulation and gathering, framing each stage of the wellness ritual as both functional and ceremonial.
An atrium inspired by ancient halls
The atrium serves as the heart of the space, anchored by oversized columns and finished in monochromatic textured stone that recalls ancient hypostyle halls. Saunas, cold plunges, and showers are arranged in symmetry, creating sightlines and a sense of balance throughout the room.
Circular lounges and tiered perimeter benches foster communal exchange, reinforcing the club’s focus on shared experience.
Lighting sets the tone at the Altar
Marsollier Villacorta designed the ceiling and pendant installations for the reception, the oculus above the stairwell, and the ceiling lighting in the cold plunge room, sauna, showers, and IV lounge. Pedro Ávila, meanwhile, was brought on to create bespoke accent lighting, including sconces placed throughout the space, and collaborated with Marsollier Villacorta on the main grid lighting feature in the atrium.
The final atmosphere draws on nightlife spaces, balancing contemplative dimness with moments of tension that amplify the architectural rhythm and sense of ritual. Much of the lighting throughout the Altar references traditional on-set light boxes, a nod to Winecoff’s extensive background in photoshoots and film production.
“I’ve spent a decade shaping light around people—always with the goal of making them feel like their most confident, elevated selves,” shares Winecoff. “That philosophy carried straight into the design of this space, where every material, color, and lighting decision was made with one goal: to help people feel amazing in their own skin.”
