As Featured In:
The New York Times
Wallpaper*
The Spaces
A Modern Bathhouse in NoHo, New York
Lore Bathing Club is a new membership-based wellness destination in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood. Conceived in partnership with Studioilse (Ilse Crawford) and designed by New York–based Ringo Studio, Lore reimagines the historic bathhouse for a new era of wellness culture, combining saunas, cold plunges, and social rituals under one roof.
Material Narrative
The design centers on the idea of contrast therapy — alternating between hot and cold, tension and release. This philosophy is expressed through a material palette of contrasts: smooth travertine against textured brick, creamy floor tile against dark walnut, light against shadow. The cold plunge is framed in warm travertine tones and creamy textures, while the sauna is wrapped in deep chocolate wood, accented by black Nasco porcelain tile and Orca brick pavers.
“We approached the design as a ritual in itself: layering natural materials, rich contrasting textures, and sculptural forms that invite guests to reconnect with their bodies, their senses, and the transformative rhythm of the bathing journey.” — Madelynn Ringo
Sequencing and Experience
The architecture of Lore guides visitors on a sensory journey. Spaces expand and contract, ceiling heights shift, and bold transitional staircases in saturated reds and burnt oranges mark the thresholds between heat and cool. Every transition mirrors the body’s own passage through contrast, grounding the ritual of bathing in physical, visual, and emotional rhythm.
“For Lore, we wanted every transition between spaces to mirror the body’s own journey through contrast, from hot to cold, from tension to release. By sequencing light, texture, and materiality, we created an environment that supports deep physical and sensory connection.” — Madelynn Ringo
Connection to Nature
Grounded in natural materials, the interiors reconnect guests with elemental textures — from veined travertine to earthy brick and integrated greenery. Sculptural ceiling forms in the cold plunge room evoke skylights, allowing light to guide the visitor’s sense of balance between inside and outside.
Opening in NoHo in Fall 2025
Secure your membership to Lore Bathing Club.
