KLĀ  is a full-service spa reimagining relaxation in a thoughtful environment built around the simple act of pausing. The sanctuary of hydrotherapy pools, multisensory showers, saunas, and massage rooms embodies that philosophy in the materials, the soundscape, and the warmth of water.

Every design decision reflects that intention. The architecture balances contrast and continuity: original brickwork meets terracotta walls, smooth plaster, and exposed wood joists. Natural materials— stone, wood, and clay—seat visitors in a sensory experience that feels both elemental and refined.

Transforming the 130-year-old timber-framed brick building into a modern thermal spa with pools presented significant technical and logistical challenges for the architects. Bringing the vision to life required innovative solutions that balanced preservation with performance. 

Structurally, the primary concern was in accommodating the immense weight of the water-filled pools within a historic framework never designed for such loads. This required careful structural engineering, reinforcing existing timber and masonry, introducing new steel framing, and cutting precise openings in the floors to allow for proper pool depths without compromising the building’s integrity. 

Each intervention had to respect the building’s age, material limitations, and heritage value.

Equally complex was the need for mechanical systems to create a comfortable and stable spa environment. Heating and ventilation systems were designed to maintain warmth while managing humidity to prevent condensation and long-term damage to the historic structure. Achieving this balance demanded advanced HVAC design, hidden ductwork, and constant monitoring to protect sensitive materials. To address thermal and acoustic challenges, spray insulation was applied between exposed wood joists, color-matched to the surrounding wood joists, to provide a subtle moisture barrier for the floor above while softening sound in the spa below. Interior storm windows were added to preserve the historic glazing while improving energy performance and minimizing heat loss, maintaining the building’s character from both inside and out.

Accessibility added another layer of difficulty, which the design team achieved through a series of ramps, stairs, and raised pool ledges that create a natural flow between levels and seamless entry into each pool, ensuring an inclusive, graceful experience within a historically rich setting.