SINGAPORE \u2013 In the former barracks of Dempsey, one might not expect to find hot pools of epsom salt.<\/p>\n
Stepping into contemporary bathhouse Nowhere Baths, the troubles melt away. Guests shuffle back and forth between hot pools, a cold plunge, and Finnish-style sauna and steam room \u2013 in search of joint relief, recovery and a good time with friends.<\/p>\n
On an outdoor deck in the back, some take a breather in the still air. It is as close to forest bathing as you can get in the urban jungle of Singapore.<\/p>\n
Co-founders Sarah Chan, 35, and Derick Foo, 38, fell into bathhouse culture in 2022. Bona fide experts in wet wellness \u2013 the couple are also behind flotation therapy joint Palm Ave Float Club \u2013 they were inspired by their research that found bathing could go beyond the functional. <\/p>\n
That set in motion a plan to build a new kind of bathhouse in Singapore, one prioritising quiet and stillness. <\/p>\n Nowhere Baths Hot Pools.<\/p>\n PHOTO: OFFICE & SERVICES<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Dempsey unit surfaced as an option and ultimately won \u2013 \u201cbecause nothing could beat the nature, vibe and privacy\u201d, says Ms Chan. \u201cWe envisioned that it would be a great space for people to enjoy a half-day retreat away from the city bustle. There are a lot of people in Singapore who want a quiet space that\u2019s restful; it\u2019s quite hard to find.\u201d<\/p>\n Bathhouses are on their way to being the next big wellness fad in Singapore. At least 10 venues focusing on recovery have sprung up over the last two years \u2013 from familiar names such as Trapeze Rec Group to newer but fast-growing entrants like The Ice Bath Club and Rekoop. <\/p>\n Offering a range of services such as saunas, hot-cold therapy, ice plunges and more, they run the spectrum from performance-focused to holistic.<\/p>\n In November, international developer and operator of wellness projects Therme Group announced that it had won a tender by the Singapore Tourism Board to develop the country\u2019s first dedicated wellness attraction in Marina South. Slated to open by 2030, the $1 billion project will feature saunas, steam baths and water slides.<\/p>\n With stiffening competition, some are going above and beyond to open design-forward concepts.<\/p>\n Newest to the scene is Capybara Bathing, a Sydney-born bathhouse arriving in Singapore\u2019s Tras Street in February. Inspired by the world\u2019s most relaxed social animal, the capybara, the 3,000 sq ft studio, which takes up two ground-floor shophouse units, aims to bring back the social aspect of bathing \u2013 all while evoking the senses. <\/p>\n Sydney-born bathhouse Capybara Bathing is opening in Singapore in February.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DECLAN BLACKALL<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Through curated zones, guests can experience magnesium mineral baths (38 to 40 deg C) and cold plunges (4 to 8 deg C), heated lounges and steam rooms and a Nordic-inspired hot lounge with shaved ice scrub. Picture terracotta tiles, calming curves and a play on textures setting the scene for intimate, ritualised bathing and reflection. <\/p>\n You can expect nothing less from a founding team of designers. Capybara Bathing was the brainchild of a six-person team comprising architects, an art collector and a ceramicist. All still hold day jobs.<\/p>\n Australians Natalie Cheung, Rebecca Qin, Daegeon Song, Justin Lo, Nicholas Souksamrane and Sebastian Tsang met in architecture school in Sydney. As they grew into their 30s and out of their partying phase, they began longing for a wellness space related to their upbringing in Sydney, which centred around the beach and water activities. <\/p>\n Against a rising global trend of bathhouses, sauna and contrast therapy, an idea began to take form. They opened Capybara Bathing in Sydney\u2019s Surry Hills in April 2024. <\/p>\n Capybara Bathing Bathhouse first opened in Sydney\u2019s Surry Hills in April 2024.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DECLAN BLACKALL<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cWe wanted somewhere to hang out outside a typical alcohol-related activity,\u201d Mr Lo, 36, tells The Straits Times over video call. Their customer pool has widened in the past year, with more who work in fast-paced environments looking to bathhouses to get their mental break or reset, he adds.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s changed (with bathing culture) is that we can bring these facilities to be more accessible in a dense city like Singapore or Sydney. You don\u2019t have to go out of the way or make a hotel booking to get access and make it part of your weekly routine.\u201d<\/p>\n This aesthetic-first approach is extending to wellness spaces with a medical slant too. <\/p>\n Opened in June, Prologue Centre for Women\u2019s Wellness is instantly striking on the fifth floor of Ngee Ann City, its green lime-washed walls standing out from the neighbouring beauty and wellness service operators. <\/p>\n Smooth curved walls in green at Prologue Centre for Women\u2019s Wellness set it apart from the typical white clinic.<\/p>\n PHOTO: PROLOGUE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The centre is the latest concept under the SL Aesthetic Group, which includes Singapore skin and hair brands such as SL Aesthetic Clinic and TrichoLab. Incorporating a mixed-gender general practice clinic and women\u2019s wellness centre, Prologue offers treatments that span from body contouring to postpartum recovery. <\/p>\n It fills a gap at the intersection of preventive clinical healthcare and holistic wellness, says Dr Kelvin Chua, founder and medical director of SL Aesthetic Group.<\/p>\n \u201cMany beauty or wellness brands focus primarily on appearance or quick fixes, while traditional healthcare often reacts to problems after they arise. Prologue helps address early risks, manage chronic conditions and support long-term health, while incorporating aspects of lifestyle medicine and well-being that are often overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n And no reason not to do all that in style. Along the smooth curved walls, shelves of books on healthcare, perimenopause, body confidence and more, as well as supplements, add to the warm atmosphere \u2013 intentionally designed to differ from the typical white, sterile clinic.<\/p>\n Prologue\u2019s space includes a health coaching room, reading room and Strength Suite (pictured) for supporting women through hormonal changes and muscle loss.<\/p>\n PHOTO: PROLOGUE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Thoughtful space design is an integral part of the health journey that requires understanding the needs of patients alongside clinicians, says Prologue\u2019s chief operating officer Cheryl Han. <\/p>\n \u201cHealthcare architecture is a field of its own \u2013 a unique blend of planning, technical expertise and deep understanding of clinical operations to create spaces that are efficient, safe and conducive to healing.<\/p>\n \u201cConsumers increasingly value spaces that feel considered, calming and aligned with their well-being,\u201d she adds. <\/p>\n The price of recovery does not come cheap. Renovations for Prologue, in its prime Orchard location, involved a six-figure investment.<\/p>\n Both Nowhere Baths and Capybara Bathing faced pricey structural challenges in creating a wet environment from scratch. Nowhere\u2019s founders estimate that\u00a0they spent a seven-figure sum on renovations,\u00a0which included\u00a0excavating the floor and constructing pools in a building that\u00a0had\u00a0stayed\u00a0vacant for nine years.<\/p>\n Nowhere Baths Cold Shower. <\/p>\n PHOTO: OFFICE & SERVICES<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cWe went into it thinking it was just an interior project and didn\u2019t realise it was an engineering project, involving a lot of water and electricity. We had to rebuild a lot of infrastructure in the space,\u201d says Mr Foo, who recalls in amusement how the process involved him venturing into the jungle to open up manholes and see where the sewers went.<\/p>\n The unit is currently signed for a three-year lease, of which two years went into renovations and waiting for approval from various parties and authorities. <\/p>\n Capybara Bathing\u2019s Singapore space cost \u201csignificant personal savings\u201d, around six figures, excluding the shophouse\u2019s five-year lease, says Ms Nicole Chew, who lives in Singapore and heads Capybara\u2019s Singapore operations as partner and director. <\/p>\n The team also ran into structural challenges due to the building\u2019s conservation constraints. <\/p>\n But they were unwavering in their location requirements. It had to be a shophouse, on the fringe of the Central Business District and on the ground floor, because \u201cwalking up the stairs changes the experience\u201d, says Ms Chew, 35.<\/p>\n Mr Lo adds: \u201cWe wanted to choose heritage buildings in an urban environment \u2013 the building outside would keep its character but when you walk inside, it\u2019s like a surprise. You wouldn\u2019t typically think there\u2019s a pool inside a shophouse. It feels like our house \u2013 that we\u2019re putting our own money into and inviting people in.\u201d<\/p>\n Wellness, Ms Chew notes, is evolving from a trend to being a central part of the way people live.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are constantly seeking experiences that are not just rooted in performance or aesthetics, but more about being present; and restoration and balance in their lifestyle. Self-care has expanded beyond isolated activities. It\u2019s more about community and sharing these rituals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat slow living is something we try to invite into our lives consistently \u2013 especially after New Year\u2019s, when people forget their resolutions after the first month.\u201d<\/p>\n The Straits Times checks out new wellness spots and treatments to try in 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nowhere Baths<\/b><\/p>\n <\/a> (14A Dempsey Road)<\/b><\/p>\n A modern, minimalist bathhouse, Nowhere Baths has become a favourite among those seeking a respite in water.<\/p>\n PHOTO: OFFICE & SERVICES<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n All curves in natural tones, Nowhere Baths is one of Dempsey\u2019s better-kept secrets. <\/p>\n The modern, minimalist bathhouse which opened in April has become a quiet favourite among those seeking a respite in water. Alongside two hot pools (39 to 40 deg C), there is a cold plunge (13 deg C), steam room (42 to 45 deg C) and sauna (85 to 90 deg C). For $55 for two hours, alternate among them for a shot at recovery and relief of aches and pains. <\/p>\n An outdoor deck facing Dempsey\u2019s natural foliage, where one can relax in between pool dips, is a highlight.<\/p>\n Nowhere Baths has an outdoor deck facing Dempsey\u2019s natural foliage.<\/p>\n PHOTO: NOWHERE BATHS<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Co-founders Sarah Chan, 35, and Derick Foo, 38, were at a juncture in their lives when they were exploring bathhouse culture. <\/p>\n The two are also behind flotation therapy joint Palm Ave Float Club, which was an early pioneer in the local wellness movement when it opened in 2014. They closed it in June 2025 to focus on Nowhere. <\/p>\n Though they are regarded as wellness pioneers here, the couple, who studied communications in National University of Singapore (NUS), fell into the industry by accident.<\/p>\n Mr Foo started Palm Ave in his final year, fuelled by a start-up fire ignited from his time in the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme. Ms Chan left her job in advertising to join him.<\/p>\n Floating, they found, was a very transformative tool that resonated with them in their 20s. It started with one sensory deprivation tank and grew into a float centre with six tanks at its peak, catalysing their journey in wellness. They learnt to work with and maintain the quality of water \u2013 which made the transition to operating a bathhouse smoother.<\/p>\n In 2017, Mr Foo picked up bathing after a transformative Japanese meditation retreat. The pair started frequenting Kallang Wave Mall\u2019s Yunomori Onsen & Spa and diving into bathhouse culture, travelling to Taiwan, Finland and Melbourne to try different bathhouses. <\/p>\n Nowhere Baths Sauna.<\/p>\n PHOTO: NOWHERE BATHS<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Inspired by the spiritual aspect of bathing, they looked into opening a mixed-gender bathhouse in Singapore that would prioritise stillness and quiet contemplation. At Nowhere, low speaking volumes are encouraged.<\/p>\n Because of different cultures, some bathhouses are livelier than others. But there were already more social bathhouses in the market, says Ms Chan. <\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to create a space for people to look inwards; it\u2019s almost borrowed from our experience with floating. When we designed the space, a lot of it is more felt than heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Nowhere Baths Cold Plunge.<\/p>\n PHOTO: OFFICE & SERVICES<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Bathhouses are not usually this curvaceous, jokes Mr Foo. Drawing inspiration from nature, the curves, in symphony with one another, are to evoke a sense of safety. <\/p>\n \u201cEven the baths allow you to sit in one corner where you feel protected; you can let your guard down and really reflect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay to talk; it\u2019s just being aware of other people. Once everyone\u2019s mindful of the space and the volume, everyone has a better time. Maybe this is one reason bath culture has lasted so long in Japan \u2013 because of this sense of respecting the community.\u201d<\/p>\n They contemplated different styles \u2013 Japanese onsen were ergonomic and space-efficient; Finnish saunas optimised air quality and were built on a philosophy of democracy \u2013 and eventually pulled from everywhere to fit Singaporean preferences.<\/p>\n Nowhere Baths Steam Room.<\/p>\n PHOTO: OFFICE & SERVICES<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n For instance, they went with the \u201cmore democratic\u201d Finnish way of incorporating a pail of water for guests to take turns pouring over rocks to release steam \u2013 over the German style, where a sauna master enters to pour the water.<\/p>\n Nowhere Baths Changing Room (left) and Hot Pools (right).<\/p>\n PHOTOS: OFFICE & SERVICESNOWHERE BATHS<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Nowhere was built around enjoying nature \u2013 something one might otherwise find exclusively in hotel spas with the luxury of space \u2013 and this remains its biggest draw.\u00a0 It borrows from the traditional concept of enjoying a sauna in the woods. <\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to make it accessible, but also very poetic and beautiful. Our architects did a great job of highlighting the view in the backyard,\u201d says Ms Chan. \u201cWe\u2019re out of the way, but we make it worth it to travel down.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Capybara Bathing<\/b><\/p>\n <\/a> (77 Tras Street, opening in February)<\/b><\/p>\n Australian bathhouse Capybara Bathing in Sydney.<\/p>\n PHOTO: JAMES GREEN\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Design expectations are high going into the February opening of Capybara Bathing\u2019s Singapore location. After all, the minimalist bathhouse from Sydney is the brainchild of a six-person team comprising architects, an art collector and a ceramicist. <\/p>\n In search of a social space not centred around alcohol, Australians Natalie Cheung, Rebecca Qin, Daegeon Song, Justin Lo, Nicholas Souksamrane and Sebastian Tsang, who met in architecture school in Sydney, opened Capybara Bathing in Sydney\u2019s Surry Hills in April 2024.<\/p>\n Set within a 1939 warehouse, the facility comes equipped with features like a steam room, mineral spa and cold plunge pool. They drew influences from the Scandinavian sauna and Japanese onsen. <\/p>\n Capybara Bathing Sauna.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DECLAN BLACKALL<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mr Lo, 36, was particularly inspired by an onsen in Mount Fuji, with a window looking out into the forest. \u201cA lot of that is recreated in the mountains, but not in a city. We wanted to bring that feeling into the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Heading Capybara\u2019s Singapore operations as partner and director is fellow Australian Nicole Chew, a university friend who now works in construction and real estate.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us having a design background, it was always in our deep passions to explore design, take control of the design process and be our own client,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Having lived in Singapore for seven years now, the 35-year-old observes the same big-city societal pressure to succeed here that often led to fatigue and burnout.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw this outlook that people wanted to reset the mind and the body. Our focus is on bringing back the slowness and shifting away from the standard quick-fix recovery. Singapore needs more slow spaces like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Capybara Bathing Pool.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DECLAN BLACKALL<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The upcoming 3,000 sq ft space caters to both the social customer and the one seeking alone time. Prices will start from $55 for 90 minutes with full access to all facilities. <\/p>\n Their focus is on creating a sensorial experience \u2013 from the scent in the air to the touch of contrasting materials of rough and smooth under your feet. It is to simulate walking into a different world in each room, and a sense of journey and discovery, says Mr Lo. <\/p>\n The material palette is kept muted as a quiet backdrop for bathing activities. Changing rooms, showers and even steam rooms are sectioned off into little pods in an intentional choice to cut off one\u2019s sightline and provide spaces for quiet conversation. <\/p>\n Capybara Bathing Steam Room.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DECLAN BLACKALL<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mr Lo describes it as \u201ca bit maze-like\u201d, with a contrast in going from intimate spaces to big open ones. <\/p>\n Unique to Capybara are a hot bench for relaxing on \u2013 with an ice scrub on the side as taken from Nordic traditions \u2013 and a flexible lounge space for people to take a break in between their programmes. The lounge will also be used to host events and workshops. <\/p>\n From the drawings and procurement of materials to managing the contractors and construction execution, everything was done in-house. <\/p>\n Capybara Bathing Hot Bench.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DECLAN BLACKALL<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Special mosaic tiles were sourced from Japan, fittings from Europe and Australia, lights from Belgium, and ceramic basins and other objects sculpted on commission by home-grown potter Mud Rock Ceramics \u2013 because \u201cyou can\u2019t complete the story if you don\u2019t extend it to the basins and tapware\u201d, says Ms Chew, who leads Capybara\u2019s focus on collaborating with local wellness practitioners and artists.<\/p>\n The bathhouse has also enlisted Singaporean designer Bessie Ye of womenswear label Rye to design its uniforms. Future programming will include collaborations with local practitioners to host sound baths, singing bowl sessions, and stretch, meditation and breathwork workshops.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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