Rockwell Group's design concept for Bathhouse’s first Manhattan location was the idea of the Hero’s Journey, the common template in our stories from mythology that involves a hero who embarks on an epic journey or quest, encounters challenges with a decisive apex, and returns home transformed by the adventure and personal growth.

At Bathhouse, we saw each component of the guest’s experience, from reception to treatment rooms, as having a narrative corollary to this journey, complete with thresholds, mentors along the way, and helpers along the road to “recovery.” Making dramatic use of light and shadow, our muted, moody material palette includes travertine, fluted glass, stone, concrete, tile, and metals with a patina finish. Our goal was to create a new architectural language, allowing guests to feel as though they’ve discovered futuristic remnants from an ancient civilization.