Comma Byron is a bathhouse where wellness and creativity converge in a space that anticipates every need and sparks the senses.
September 2nd, 2024
The juggernaut of wellbeing has manifested itself in the way we lead our lives, build our futures and design. It has shifted our perspective on life and has been advantageous for commercial venues and experiences that emphasise wellness. Through the tumultuousness of recent years, wellness has persevered and stood its ground, and for us to perceive the movement as an ephemeral trend would be naïve. So, it’s worth mentioning that the wellness landscape of Byron Bay, a location renowned for its positive energy and a magnet for wellness hubs, continues to grow.
“A great deal of the Comma experience is about anticipating the needs of the users. I think that is a big mantra for Comma as a brand. So, the design had to do the same,” says Dominique Brammah, Director of We Are Duet.
Comma Byron is the latest design-centric wellness centre that has taken the scene by storm. An ethereal bathhouse that is the collaborative result of the design coalition between We Are Duet and Eloise Fotheringham Architect and Interiors. Set upon a reasonably tight floorplan that lacks natural light infiltration, the designers were challenged to draw light inward and make the spaces radiate warmth.
A stairwell carves out the entry and leads up to the first level landing, where visitors and employees alike will find the reception space. The space is anchored by a monumental angular counter etched with a zig-zagged storage wall of joinery and complemented by a custom banquette of salvaged timber artfully patchworked together with a jute and leather upholstered seat, and set against a glowing neon commissioned artwork by Ryan Hoffmann. “The space then narrows to a more intimate lounge opposite a timber ladder display and a custom hanging rail for product. Hand-painted mirrored wall panelling wraps the corner creating a beguiling illusion, the striped lines playing with reflections and solidity,” says Shannon Shlom, Director of We Are Duet.
Related: Inside W Hotel Sydney
Regarding materials, nearly everything is tinted; the lacquer helps foster a moodiness within the space while allowing sunlight to reflect off the surfaces and generate warmth. The colour palette is striking on a backdrop of a high-gloss biscuit colour that covers the walls and ceiling. Meanwhile, the base palette boasts warm neutrals with varieties of rusty reds, buttercup yellow, deep cool-toned mustard and piercing neon orange. While the reception is warm and glowing, the bathrooms are cooled by a mid-toned dirty blue wall and ceiling colour and raw chocolate brown handmade ceramic tiles. “The mixed media of materials allows for a submersion of the senses,” explains Brammah.
“A few materials are unconventionally used but equally perfectly placed in this welcoming space to achieve harmony. The silhouette of all designed joinery pieces is a classic frame, and durable materials allow for a life cycle of heavy use and beyond. The selected items which round out the design are all classic design pieces.”
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Elevate any space with statement lighting to illuminate and inspire.
Within the intimate confines of compact living, where space is at a premium, efficiency is critical and dining out often trumps home cooking, Gaggenau’s 400 Series Culinary Drawer proves that limited space can, in fact, unlock unlimited culinary possibilities.
BLANCOCULINA-S II Sensor promotes water efficiency and reduces waste, representing a leap forward in faucet technology.
In this candid interview, the culinary mastermind behind Singapore’s Nouri and Appetite talks about food as an act of human connection that transcends borders and accolades, the crucial role of technology in preserving its unifying power, and finding a kindred spirit in Gaggenau’s reverence for tradition and relentless pursuit of innovation.
The announcement of Volker Haug as this year’s recipient of the Melbourne Design Week Prize starts the event on a high note.
As a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, Ballarat is hosting Craft Lab and The Great Takeaway this month. Nicole Durling, Executive Director at Craft Victoria, tells us more.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Melbourne design Week is just around the corner and here’s a glimpse of what to expect!
Winner of the 2025 RedDot Design Awards, the newly relaunched Flo monitor arm by Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS) brings refined ergonomics and effortless movement to the forefront of modern workspaces – proving that comfort and performance start at the desk.