Located in the heart of Old Montreal, the famous Bota Bota spa is docked at the Port of the Saint-Lawrence River, an area rich with history and character. The densely vegetated dockside location and surrounding railway posed a challenge to construction because the site was inaccessible to trucks. Thus, MU Architecture repurposed shipping containers, brought in by barges, into pavilions. The architects clad the pavilions in strips of Ipe wood and topped them with large cantilevered green roofs to create an oasis-like feel. The roofs are partly clad in white painted steel panels to evoke an industrial vibe, and also feature square cutouts that generate an animated play of light and shadow.
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The pavilions were carefully positioned to frame the best views of the surroundings, from the historic grain silos to the skyscraper-studded skyline, and are situated around Bota Bota Garden’s focal point: the 600-square-foot outdoor infinity pool. The pool is surrounded by stone pathways and includes a waterfall feature. To keep the outdoor spa functional year-round, the architects installed a geothermal radiant heated flooring system. The Bota Bota’s second phase will see the addition of a sauna and another lounge area.
+ MU Architecture
Via v2com
Images via v2com © Fany Ducharme
