In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier by Zehua Zhang

In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier by Zehua Zhang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award yn Brûns in Arsjitektuer, Gebou en Struktuerûntwerp Competition Category.

BrûnsArsjitektuer· 2026

In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier

by Zehua Zhang

Client: Zehua Zhang

A' Design Award yn Brûns Winner in Arsjitektuer Category

6,477

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180620

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier

It projekt is in wellnesscentrum oan de rivier yn Portugal. It ûntwerp is yntegrearre yn in besteand natuerlik lânskip en brûkt floeiende arsjitektoanyske foarmen om de fisuele ynfloed te ferminderjen. Grutte glêswurkflakken binne ynfierd om útsjoch tusken de ynterieurromten en de omlizzende omjouwing mooglik te meitsjen. Houten ôfwurkingen en stiennen flierren wurde troch it hiele ynterieur tapast. It programma omfettet in sauna, jacuzzi en Turksk bad, sa oardere dat se in rige fan baadromten foarmje. De yndieling organisearret dizze funksjes yn relaasje ta de rivier en it omlizzende terrein.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Brûns

In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Brûns, in heech prestisjeuze erkenning foar treflike ûntwerpen dy't har ûnderskiede troch kreativiteit, fernuft en tûkens. Brûnswinners binne tige feardige en opfallend kreative artefakten dy't de grutte ûnderfining, ferbylding en betochtsumens fan har ûntwerpers befêstigje. Fan In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier wurdt ferwachte dat it in tige heech achte, bewûndere en dierber objekt is dat opmerklik profesjoneel en ynnovatyf is. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Brûns yntegrearret de bêste praktiken yn keunst, wittenskip, ûntwerp en technology en is treflik om syn omtinken foar detail. In Seclusion Wellnesscentrum oan de rivier foldocht behoeften prachtich, reitsjet winsken, betsjoeveret gefoelens en sprekt nijsgjirrigens oan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This is a riverside spa design in Portugal that embodies serene seclusion. It harmonizes fully with its historic and natural surroundings, using low-profile architecture, expansive glass, timber interiors, and stone flooring to blur indoor and outdoor boundaries. Its strengths lie in immersive nature integration, warm materiality, and a layout combining sauna, jacuzzi, and Turkish bath, offering guests a profound, multi-sensory retreat deeply connected to the landscape.
Dimensions & Packaging: Single-story building with overall dimensions of 20 meters in width, 8 meters in depth, and 8 meters in height.
Tags: Landscape architecture, leisure spa, wellness facilities, low-impact design, indoor-outdoor connection, integration with nature, immersive experience
Production Technology: The spa was designed through careful site analysis, integrating gently with the terrain. Timber, beige stone, and low-iron glass were chosen for warmth, durability, and transparency. The process combined ecological sensitivity, modular planning for sauna, jacuzzi, and Turkish bath, and precise glazing to enhance visual connections with nature, creating a harmonious, immersive, and sustainable environment.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was balancing serenity with practicality—preserving the historic watermill while adding modern spa facilities. Internally, respecting the site’s history and ecology challenged design choices. Externally, strict codes, structural limits, and material availability required adaptation. Technology and environmental analysis guided solutions, ensuring minimal impact while creating a harmonious, immersive experience
Research: Type of research: design-focused experiential study. Research objectives: explore how architecture can promote deep relaxation and enhance the human-nature connection. Methodology: combining site analysis, material studies, spatial simulations, and daylight analysis. Data collection: through site photos, topographic drawings, and building equipment specifications. Research tools: cad models, 3d visualizations, material samples, and environmental sensors monitoring light, sound, and water interaction.
Inspiration: The inspiration came from the serene beauty of the Vez River and the timeless presence of the old watermill. I was drawn to creating a space that allows people to reconnect with nature and themselves, offering quietude without isolation. My motive was to design a spa that flows with the landscape, using natural materials and transparent architecture to blur boundaries, fostering a profound, immersive experience of calm, reflection, and harmony with the environment.
Project Duration: The project started in February 2025 and finished in June 2025
Operation Flow: The spa functions through immersive spatial design: guests move through curated areas—pool, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish bath—experiencing gentle sensory transitions. Interaction arises from visual and tactile engagement with natural materials, light, and water. Key moments occur at floor-to-ceiling glazing, pool edges, and steam-filled interiors. By harmonizing with nature, it deepens relaxation, enhances well-being, and fosters a seamless, restorative human-nature connection.
Team Members: Zehua Zhang