Bathhouse culture, made famous by Turkish hammams, Hungarian thermal springs, and ancient bacchanalian Roman and Greek hangouts, traces back centuries, its meanings and customs shifting over the ages. For Wang Bang, principal designer and chief architect at Beijing-based DJX Design Studio, contemporary versions of these aquatic rituals should not merely be therapeutic or social in intent, but synonymous with spirituality, paying homage to the past.

That philosophy is on display at the 64-room Qushui-Lanting Resort Hotel in Hangzhou, which his firm designed as a holistic spa retreat that brings together and cultivates communities. Bang achieved this, for example, by placing a “laser focus on the function of light,” and exploring its relationship to the surroundings. “When the light touches different materials in various shades and forms, it not only defines the boundaries, but also conveys the logic of the space, creating a connection between the indoors and the outdoors,” he explains. “Through the interplay of light and shadow, people can see the passage of time and experience a moment of tranquility.”

Two pools in the spa, carved into geometric forms, are tucked between heavy walls for a sense of privacy

There is no shortage of light at Qushui-Lanting, yet it is never too bright nor too saturated, particularly in relation to water. Bang took special care in the spa to ensure it doesn’t distract from the wellness offerings, including pools carved into geometric forms. Instead, he strived to conjure an ambience full of balanced reflections that ultimately leaves spa-goers relaxed. “It is essential for guests to feel at ease when they are in this place,” he points out.

Brass also plays a starring role in the property, its golden hue covering everything from guestroom corridors to bathroom light fixtures. “At the [hotel’s] entrance, a wall combining brass and concrete with a water curtain divides the interior and exterior,” Bang explains. Although dramatic, shimmering Art Deco-inspired curves are certainly a design highlight, they are an element that also serves a utilitarian purpose, acting as elegant wayfinding that leads guests through the property. Theatrical ribbon-shaped brass panels also enliven the hotel’s stark, sculptural forms and add a sense of vastness to its largely monochrome palette of gray and cool marble with hints of wood veneer. Brass is not simply a material or an installation, says Bang, but a grounding signpost.

Large curved partitions add softness to the minimalist gray palette

In keeping with the spa’s emphasis on spirituality, the hotel is strewn with pockets of quiet space

This article originally appeared in HD’s December 2020 issue.