OVERVIEW
The original Ironmonger Row Baths site was built in the 1930s with swimming pool and traditional style bathing house of hot rooms and cold plunge in the basement. These facilities were completely upgraded in 2012 with saunas and steam rooms added.
In January 2022, the basement spa was destroyed by a fire. A complete restoration of the area was required of the builder’s work, fabric and services and Sauna360 UK was honoured to be commissioned to design and install all wellness areas. In January 2024 the "bathing house" re-opened to a wonderful reception.
There has been a transformation of the area and a feeling of space, tranquillity and relaxation. Huge full height tiles adorn the walls throughout. Longitudinal floor tiles subtly take the eye to the glass fronted Salt sauna at one end and the backlit image and relax zone the other.
On arriving from the changing area the guest has a choice of contemporary facilities of saunas, aroma steam rooms, feature showers and ice to the left or traditional hot rooms, cold plunge and massage slabs to the right with large relaxation areas in the centre.
In the contemporary zone there are two large saunas:
The Juniper Sauna
This sauna is operated at 75-85C with automatic infusion for a medium humidity. To the front a Juniper wall provides a beautiful detail with its own natural spicy aroma.
Behind the benches, and hidden within the wall, are Infra red panels. These allow the room to be operated in separate sessions at a lower temperature 40-45C with the benefits of IR bathing.
The Salt Sauna
The Salt Sauna is hot (85-95C) and dry like a traditional Finnish sauna and provides the ideal environment for the large salt wall. The impressive sauna has the height for a third bench in the hottest zone. The glass front allows the backlit salt wall and attractive finishes to be viewed from outside and the feeling of space appreciated from within.
The Aroma Steam Room
This opulent room has copious amounts of steam infused with seasonally changing essence. The stunning, large format, dark marble tiles are paired with subtle underbench lighting to create a relaxing ambience. Inclined backrests are used for ultimate comfort.
Salt Inhalation Steam Room
Contrasting beautifully with Aroma Steam Room, this thermal experience infuses the area with a mint or lemon essence to complement the automated salt spray within the steam environment for enhanced inhalation benefits.
Completing the area are two Feature showers with warm and cool programs using essence plus a Cool room with ice feature and icy mint spray.
Infrared Benching
In the central area there is a long Recliner bench in ergonomic ceramics with gentle Infra red heating plus an expansive relaxation zone.
Hot Rooms
In the traditional zone there are the Hot Rooms. A series of interlinked rooms in large ceramics with increasing temperature as you get further in for the ultimate thermal experience.
Drench Bucket & Plunge Pool
Outside the hot rooms one will find a drench bucket cleansing shower and a large Plunge pool. The plunge pool now includes a unique heat recovery system which uses the heat removed from the plunge pool water to provide heat to the existing learner pool.
Massage Slabs & Footrests
The traditional zone also has twin heated Massage slabs for wet massage treatments by the spa therapists. The area is completed by additional heated benching with heated foot rests, below the backlit feature wall.
Contact Sauna360 Ltd by clicking the button below to find out which products were used in this case study.
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