Lina Kamille - Silent City Spa_Silent Retreat in LA

Silent City Spa

Transforming an existing building in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, into a modern Silent Retreat and day-spa experience.

CONTEXT

Spatial Experience Design, MA Program

ArtCenter College of Design, LA

BRIEF

How might we create an innovative health and wellness experience that integrates ambient media and focuses on story-driven, enhanced spatial environments?

Modelled in Rhino, rendered in Unreal Engine. Man added with AI. This still is captured in Unreal and is from the fireplace corner in "Place", the main pool lounge area.

Photo from my Scale model. Here: "Space", the open pool lounge area on 2nd floor with added (AI) people.

SCOPE

Silent City Spa reimagines a bustling city corner as a serene urban retreat. The project integrates Moroccan-inspired architecture, natural materials, and sensory design to create a space where visitors can experience balance between movement, stillness, and deep reflection. The spa combines ancient influences with modern sensibilities, offering an oasis for urban dwellers seeking renewal.

MAIN TOOLS

Rhino

Unreal Engine

3D Printing

Photoshop

Laser cutting

Photo from my Scale model. Here: "Lobby" seen from top view.

Photo from my Scale model. Here: "Space", the open pool lounge area on second floor with added (AI) people.

SPATIAL NARRATIVE

Visitors move through layered environments that mirror natural landscapes. Stone columns, reminiscent of tree trunks, guide the journey, from the open, airy "Space" with sunken baths to the earthy Hot Yoga Room shaped by terracotta hues. The Sand Room invites complete rest, with its sandstone walls and flowing sand installation. Each space is designed to echo natural cycles, encouraging exploration of self through sensory immersion and contrast.

Video - Spatial walkthrough

1st Floor Plan drawing: Hot Yoga room , Sand room, Hot Stone massage room and warm (spiral) showers. 2nd floor plan drawing: Locker rooms and "Space", pool lounge area.

Scale model photo. 1st Floor.

MATERIALS AND INSPIRATION

The spa’s material palette is deeply rooted in Moroccan influences and the natural world. Sandstone, terracotta, and linen are chosen for their earthy tones and tactile qualities, creating a grounding yet refined environment. Wabi-sabi aesthetics highlight the beauty of imperfection.

The stone columns scattered throughout the spa echo the trunks of trees spread across a forest floor, serving as symbolic connectors between the grounding energy of the earth and the elevated perspectives (personal transformation) that visitors can achieve through the spa experience.

"Whelm" interactive installation. Here seen from the outside.

AMBIENT MEDIA

Silent City Spa features immersive ambient media designed to enhance contemplation and awareness:

Generated Soundscapes

A blend of natural sounds and responsive soundscapes creates a soothing atmosphere, calming the mind while gently engaging it.

Interactive Installation: "Whelm"

Located in SPACE, this installation reacts to guests’ heart rates via wristband sensors. As they relax, dynamic soundscapes and fluid movements in a bowl of oil and colored water create shifting patterns, symbolizing emotional balance.

Sand Wall Installation

"Unheard": This geometric installation in the Sand Room features fine sand gently cascading through a checkered pattern, symbolizing the slow unveiling of the self. The soft, soothing sounds it creates invite quiet contemplation and deep rest.

Sand room. Room on 1st floor for deep rest and meditation.

"Unheard" geometric installation - Mockup scale model.

Sand room. "Unheard" geometric installations.