Recess Sauna | Future Simple Studio

As thermal therapy rituals gain momentum across North America, Adam Simms, from thefounding teams of Lightspeed and Trello, and former Dermapure CEO Marilyne Gagné setout to create the first social hot–cold circuit experience in Montréal. They enlisted FutureSimple Studio to translate their vision into a physical oasis that encourages socialinteractions. The team crafted RECESS: an ode to stillness, a call to pause amidst the paceof urban life; to reset, restore, and reconnect with oneself and others.

The unique experience at RECESS is enhanced by the product partnership with Aesop.Ritual and scent are woven throughout the journey, with Aesop products thoughtfullyintegrated to complement the atmosphere and design language developed by FutureSimple Studio.

A visit to RECESS is a structured, timed, and cyclical experience. Typically lasting 75 minutes, the circuit alternates between a 20-minute sweat in a unique round sauna, atwo-minute cold plunge, and moments of conversation. The rhythm encourages presenceand community — a social ritual that bridges individual and collective restoration.

The design draws from ancient bathing traditions distilled into an elemental, contemporaryvocabulary. To emphasize the rhythm of contrast, Future Simple Studio divided the planinto complementary zones, each defined by a distinct material palette and atmosphere.

Upon arrival, visitors are welcomed into a bright reception area where floor-to-ceilingwindows filter natural light across an open aluminum ceiling grid. Directional lighting subtlyguides the gaze toward the back of the room, where a frosted, back-lit glass-block wallsoftly signals arrival. In front stands a long reception desk clad in raw cold-rolled steel,anchoring the space and serving as a greeting point. While waiting, clients can sampleAesop products at the custom sink FSS integrated, set against stainless-steel shelving thatrecalls the purity of clinics and the reflective depth of water — echoing the understatedelegance of both brands.

An elongated tunnel leads visitors away from the reception, wrapping around the space asdapples of light refract along its length as you ascend the gentle ramp. The lighting effectreferences reflections of water, subtly hinting at the experience to come, before thepassage opens into an all-gender locker room. Efficient yet subdued, this hushed spaceoffers a moment of decompression — a quiet threshold between the external world and themeditative interior beyond. Designed as a transitional pathway, it gently attunes the bodyand mind to the ritual ahead.

Emerging from the locker rooms, visitors are immediately enveloped in warm, moody oaktones and golden restorative light that define the sauna zone. At its center sits a custom,50-person circular sauna — a sculptural cylinder seemingly dropped into a rectangularvolume, its monumental radius allowing for guided group sessions. Performative in nature,these communal gatherings are transformative moments where one is encouraged tobreathe, connect and feel with other people. Surrounding the sauna, stone benches inviteconversation, while a tea station offers hydration and quiet reflection.

After the sauna, visitors are gently led to the showers, a cavernous, dimly lit space thatevokes the feeling of standing beneath a cool, natural rainfall. Hidden behind a sculpturalstone wall, the shower sequence restores equilibrium before entering the cold-plunge area.

Unlike traditional single-person tubs, the custom cold-plunge pool invites groups of twelveto submerge together in a shared bath beneath pools of cool blue light — a visual andsensory reflection of the plunge itself. Natural stone slab benches heighten theatmosphere, grounding the body in contrast and renewal.

After emerging from the plunge, the body’s heart rate slows and circulation recalibrates,triggering the release of endorphins and reducing inflammation. Visitors are then invited togather in the lounge space, passing through a corridor of frosted glass panels that diffusethe light into a soft, ethereal glow.

Beyond lies a cocoon-like room encircled by layers of diffused curtains that act as acanvas, receiving and reflecting projection, transforming the space into an alternativescreening room. This multipurpose lounge hosts RECESS’ rotating program of immersiveart installations, DJ sets, and guided breathwork sessions, extending the sensory contrastinto the realm of sound, movement, and community.

Photography: Félix Michaud