Sensing Retreat: Wabi-sabi-inspired retreat design for comfort and wellness

The wellness retreat industry is rapidly growing, driven by rising stress levels, a desire for digital detox, and an increased focus on holistic health. Wellness retreats are designed to offer an escape from these daily stresses and provide a comfortable place to engage with programmes that relax, rejuvenate and revitalise guests. However, achieving ‘comfort’ in such a space varies from person to person, so how can a retreat be designed to achieve a level of ‘comfort’ that will appeal to a luxury-seeking guest?

This thesis explores how a luxury wellness retreat can be designed to evoke comfort through the integration of the Japanese principle wabi-sabi - a concept that emphasises aesthetics, spiritual well-being, and sensory experience. Wabi-sabi is rooted in ancient Japanese culture, refined by the influence of Zen Buddhism and the Japanese tea ceremony (chadō). While Western interpretations often go no further than wabi-sabi’s material aesthetic of ‘imperfection’ and ‘impermanence’, this research delves into its philosophical foundations, and connection to Japanese tradition.

Through literature research, case study analysis, and first-hand experience in Japan, valuable design insights are gained to inform the interior architecture of a wellness retreat on Waiheke Island. The design methods of photography, painting, drawing, and digital collage are used to express the wabi-sabi concept. This process informs the digitally modelled retreat facilities - a lobby, guestroom and spa. The visualisation of these spaces guides the reader on a journey through the retreat, capturing interior moments that exemplify the sensorial and material qualities of wabi-sabi inspired interiors in a wellness-focused environment.

Drawing on the wabi-sabi philosophy of humility, ritual, and natural value, this design response crafts interiors that seamlessly blend understated luxury with profound comfort. By embracing these principles, the project redefines opulence as an experience rooted in authenticity and tranquillity. This research contributes to the field of interior architecture by presenting a wellness-focused design methodology, offering a framework that prioritises harmony, mindfulness, and the inherent beauty of simplicity in creating restorative spaces.