BALUAR is the new modular sauna and hammam collection designed by Patricia Urquiola as a compact, self-contained structure in which design, materials and technology blend seamlessly, creating a pure, intimate and rejuvenating wellness experience.
The collection stems from an interpretation of the concept of a bastion, a typical element of medieval fortified architecture: a solid, protective structure designed to defend whilst also surveying the landscape. In Baluar, this concept translates into an intimate, cosy space – a minimalist structure that opens outwards whilst enclosing an environment that invites you to slow down, pause and rejuvenate. The essential forms evoke a medieval imagery reinterpreted in a contemporary key. The “grissinato” cladding in heat-treated lime wood – available in light and dark variants – introduces a vertical rhythm that punctuates the surface and reinforces its architectural presence. The zenithal light, calibrated and enveloping, creates an intimate and protected atmosphere, amplifying the sensory quality of the space.
BALUAR integrates a sauna and hammam into a single modular structure, designed to adapt to different living spaces and styles. Its compositional flexibility allows for multiple configurations: as a standalone unit, flanked by other modules or integrated into larger spaces, until it becomes an integral part of a comprehensive wellness area. The bespoke attention to detail and technological innovation, which have always been hallmarks of Effe’s design philosophy, find a new contemporary expression in BALUAR: a distinctive and versatile architectural form, capable of creating ever-changing relationships with the space whilst maintaining its formal identity intact.
Finishes
Sauna: light or dark heat-treated lime wood
Hammam:
exterior in light heat-treated lime wood – interior in shell-coloured mosaic
exterior in dark heat-treated lime wood – interior in hazelnut-coloured mosaic
External step: optional walnut travertine cladding