The UK’s first communal contrast therapy club. A new space for wellness and play in London. Named Arc, the wellness facility specialises in contrast therapy – a practice that involves oscillating between heat and cold to activate the body's natural stress and relaxation responses.

Cake Architecture developed the space for hospitality specialist White Rabbit Projects, which wanted the design to reflect Arc's positioning as an alternative to conventional nightlife culture.  The client's brief laid out specific functional requirements including room types, equipment and capacity. The interior also needed to provide a sense of rhythm as guests transition between the different areas.

Inspiration for the project came from the ancient and more recent past, with nods to the Roman baths of Caracalla, as well as the works of architects and designers such as Andrea Branzi, Archizoom and Shiro Kuramata.  The design aims to explore the idea of contrasts: hot versus cold, open versus closed, and natural versus manmade. Each space has its own character, with a consistent material palette helping to unify the scheme.