As thermal therapy rituals gain momentum across North America, Adam Simms, from
the founding teams of Lightspeed and Trello, and former Dermapure CEO Marilyne Gagné set out to create the first social hot–cold circuit experience in Montréal. They enlisted Future Simple Studio to translate their vision into a physical oasis that encourages social interactions. The team crafted RECESS: an ode to stillness, a call to pause amidst the pace of 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 thoughtfully
integrated to complement the atmosphere and design language developed by Future
Simple 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,
a two-minute cold plunge, and moments of conversation. The rhythm encourages
presence and community — a social ritual that bridges individual and collective
restoration.
The design draws from ancient bathing traditions distilled into an elemental,
contemporary vocabulary. To emphasize the rhythm of contrast, Future Simple Studio divided the plan into complementary zones, each defined by a distinct material palette and atmosphere.
Upon arrival, visitors are welcomed into a bright reception area where floor-to-ceiling windows filter natural light across an open aluminum ceiling grid. Directional lighting subtly guides the gaze toward the back of the room, where a frosted, back-lit glass-block wall softly 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 sample Aesop products at the custom sink FSS integrated, set against stainless-steel shelving that recalls the purity of clinics and the reflective depth of water — echoing the understated elegance of both brands.
An elongated tunnel leads visitors away from the reception, wrapping around the space as dapples of light refract along its length as you ascend the gentle ramp. The lighting effect references reflections of water, subtly hinting at the experience to come, before the passage opens into an all-gender locker room. Efficient yet subdued, this hushed space offers a moment of decompression — a quiet threshold between the external world and the meditative interior beyond. Designed as a transitional pathway, it gently attunes the body and mind to the ritual ahead.
Emerging from the locker rooms, visitors are immediately enveloped in warm, moody oak tones 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 rectangular volume, its monumental radius allowing for guided group sessions. Performative in nature, these communal gatherings are transformative moments where one is encouraged to breathe, connect and feel with other people. Surrounding the sauna, stone benches invite conversation, while a tea station offers hydration and quiet reflection.
After the sauna, visitors are gently led to the showers, a cavernous, dimly lit space that evokes the feeling of standing beneath a cool, natural rainfall. Hidden behind a sculptural stone 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 twelve to submerge together in a shared bath beneath pools of cool blue light — a visual and sensory reflection of the plunge itself. Natural stone slab benches heighten the atmosphere, 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 to gather in the lounge space, passing through a corridor of frosted glass panels that diffuse the light into a soft, ethereal glow.
Beyond lies a cocoon-like room encircled by layers of diffused curtains that act as a
canvas, receiving and reflecting projection, transforming the space into an alternative screening room. This multipurpose lounge hosts RECESS’ rotating program of immersive art installations, DJ sets, and guided breathwork sessions, extending the sensory contrast into the realm of sound, movement, and community.
