BE_Design has completed Woods Retreat, a compact wellness space set within a wooded landscape in Springs, East Hampton, New York. The 56-square-metre building combines a charred Accoya exterior with yellow cedar and plywood interiors. Designed for meditation, yoga, sauna sessions and ice bathing, the project demonstrates how durable timber materials can support a small, adaptable architectural programme.

A Reinterpreted A-Frame

The retreat takes the form of a steep A-frame, reinterpreting a familiar rural building type as a space for health and wellbeing. Its tall triangular interior creates sufficient acoustic volume for gong ceremonies and other group practices. At the same time, the building retains a relatively small footprint.

Two cantilevered niches project from the main structure. These elements frame views of the surrounding woodland and provide enclosed places for meditation, rest or contemplation. A flexible central area can function as a yoga studio or overnight accommodation.

Built-in cushioned platforms support seated meditation and restorative exercises. Storage compartments beneath the platforms hold mats and other equipment, helping to keep the interior visually uncluttered.

Durable Timber For A Humid Climate

Material selection responds to the local climate and the building’s exposed woodland setting. BE_Design clad the exterior in small, overlapping pieces of charred Accoya. Accoya is a modified timber produced through acetylation, a process that improves dimensional stability and resistance to moisture, decay and insects. The charred finish gives the façade a dark, textured appearance while adding another protective surface treatment.

Inside, warm yellow cedar lines the principal surfaces. The studio selected this timber for its resilience in the humid regional climate and its ability to create a contrasting atmosphere against the dark exterior. Low-maintenance plywood completes the restrained interior palette.

The combination of modified, charred and naturally durable timbers aims to reduce maintenance requirements and extend the service life of the building envelope. According to the architects, the exterior timber was sourced with sustainability and long-term performance in mind.

Connecting Interior Rituals With The Landscape

A covered entrance porch creates a sheltered transition between the forest and the interior. At the rear, another porch connects the retreat to an outdoor shower, sauna and ice bath. This arrangement allows users to move between heat, cold, fresh air and the surrounding landscape.

Through its compact dimensions, adaptable plan and timber-focused material palette, Woods Retreat brings together wellness architecture and durable construction within a relatively limited footprint.

Source: v2com newswire / BE_Design
Photos: Simon Howell