BANYA Athens: A Contemporary Interpretation of Russian Spa Tradition by PHOS Architects

BANYA Athens, designed by PHOS Architects, brings a modern lens to the centuries-old Russian bathhouse, reframing its communal rituals through a contemporary architectural language in the center of the city.

Long regarded as spaces for purification and social bonding, banyas traditionally weave together heat, cold, and communal gathering—moving from humid saunas of 70–100°C to cold plunges, often accompanied by tea, kvass, or vodka. BANYA Athens builds on this heritage, transforming it into a multisensory urban retreat.

Conceived as a hybrid environment, the project blends wellness rituals with the convivial energy of a public bar. This duality shapes both the spatial flow and material palette, generating a rhythm that mirrors the ritualistic oscillation between hot and cold, intimate and social. The experience unfolds across two levels in a choreographed sequence, with warm and cool materials subtly guiding guests through shifting atmospheres.

“A strong visual identity anchors the space, drawing from the geometric purity and industrial spirit of Russian Constructivism”.

Clean lines, bold contrasts, and utilitarian materials define the architectural language. At its core, a sculptural staircase serves not only as circulation but as a moment of pause—a place to observe and engage with the activity below. Nearby, a four-meter-high concrete mesh wall divides the bar from the spa, offering separation without severing the connection between the two worlds.

The palette—metal, glass, wood, and concrete—is complemented by furniture crafted from bent steel tubing, alluding to the movement’s functionalist ethos. Vivid accents of red and black provide a deliberate nod to the revolutionary energy of the early 20^th century, grounding the interiors in a cultural narrative that feels both historic and boldly contemporary.

More than a wellness destination, BANYA Athens offers an immersive cultural journey. It bridges tradition and modernity, ritual and recreation, inviting guests into a sensorial landscape that reinterprets the Russian banya for a new urban generation.

Facts & Credits:

Project title: BANYA Athens, Typology: Interior Design – Commercial – Renovation – Construction, Location: Psyri – Athens – Greece, Client: The Baths Experience, Architecture: PHOS Architects, Lead architects: Keramida Sofia – Ziras Stefanos, Size: 200 m², Status: Completed in 2024, Text description: PHOS Architects, Photography: Ioanna Roufopoulou