I regard the Sauna as a spiritual place that can evoke a deep and primitive human experience due to the high-temperature environment. Thus, “introspective cubicle” refers to a place that leads people to sedately perceive the simple but trivial things that are often neglected due to their busy lives. 

Our task was to revitalize the old town of Collodi by combining a study of human wellness with the ancient palace Palazzina Garzoni. We attempted to reuse the palace by means of inserting a spa facility that featured a sauna because Collodi used to be well-known for its thermal resources, and people went there to bathe.  

Since the site included a small meadow, we proposed to create a stream that would circulate from the outdoor garden to the indoor palace. Water plays a significant role in connecting the landscape and every room. For example, water first flows into the room for relaxing, relieving stress and calming people by generating the sound of water flow. Next, water from outdoors fills up the indoor pool and overflows into the adjacent sauna. Eventually, the water is pumped to the upper floor and released as a cascade back to the swimming pool. In other words, we considered the water loop as a robust external connection between the natural environment and the physical building.