Taichi is the son of celebrated architect Kengo Kuma / photo: Koki
Taichi Kuma, son of the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, has designed a striking new sauna for the Sana Mane glamping destination in southern Japan.
Nestled between a forest and a beach, the 150-layer wooden sauna is built from 5,000 pieces of stacked plywood and curves upwards into a spiral shape inspired by the geometry of seashells and fishtails. In a nod to this, the structure – called Sazae – is named after the Japanese word for the horned turban sea snail’s shell.
Inside the sauna, the pleats of wood are gently shaped to provide a comfortable seating space. The interior is illuminated by natural light from an oculus in the ceiling as well as specialist durable LED lighting.
The temperature and humidity are kept at an optimum level, despite the high ceiling, thanks to environmental simulations and a design which forces ventilation.
Taichi became a partner at Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) in 2020. His father Kengo founded the practice and has worked with leading hospitality brands around the world such as Six Senses, Capella and St Regis.
Kengo’s wellness projects range from one of the largest spas in the Caribbean at Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay and the pixelated stone design of the Yunfeng Spa Resort in China to skincare packaging for Aman and a meditation house at Das Kranzbach spa hotel in Bavaria.
Taichi collaborated with Japan-based sauna brand TTNE to realise the design of Sazae. According to KKAA, Sazae’s linear pleats were pieced together like a puzzle and draw on biomimicry.
The eye-catching sauna has been brought to life on Naoshima island, a creative hotspot known as ‘Japan’s art island’ thanks to its abundance of art museums, sculptures and architecture.
Taichi describes the sauna as a “cave-like space with many twists and turns, cut off from the outside world by a thin wall”. For him, its most important advantage is its ability to help people experience Naoshima’s nature more deeply and profoundly once they exit the sauna.
“Personally, I like saunas where you can detox yourself from digital gadgets, internalise and confront yourself. Saunas have the effect of attracting such natural charm. When you bathe in plenty of moisture and heat, the air you feel afterwards is something else.”
He encourages bathers to use the sauna as part of a contrast thermotherapy cycle and cool off by swimming in the nearby sea.
Reserved for hotel guests only, Sazae must be booked in advance. Guests are allowed to eat and drink inside and are offered bath towels, sauna hats, sauna mats and sandals for free. They can also upgrade their experience by selecting either a herbal or citrus aromatherapy oil to scent the sauna and opt to take in a traditional Finnish vihta – a bunch of young birch leaves used for light slapping on the body to help with circulation.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 2
Editor's letter: Feeling optimistic
Revenue is at an all-time high and democratic wellness is bubbling under. It’s an exciting time for spas, says Katie Barnes
Spa People: Taichi Kuma
The son of celebrated architect Kengo Kuma designs a striking shell-like sauna in Japan
Spa People: Ana Ramirez
On her plans to roll out Ancestral Handmade, her regenerative wellness hotel concept, across South America – starting in Colombia
Spa People: Daniel Golby
On ESPA Life's debut in Doha and the markets he has his eyes set on for future expansion
News report: Milestone moment
US spa industry revenue exceeds the US$20bn mark according to ISPA's latest Big Five statistics
Sponsored: MyBlend: A new vision of beauty
Clarins has elevated its myBlend brand with new tech and formulations, as well as forging powerful alliances with global spa partners
Sponsored: Gharieni: Mind expansion
With the quest for better mental health growing ever stronger in the wake of the global pandemic, we ask Gharieni CEO Sammy Gharieni how the company’s wellness technologies are helping spas to meet this consumer demand
Top team: Hilton
Sleep, fitness and new spa concepts are top of the list as Hilton looks to deliver wellness across its 7,000 properties
Thermal spa: The heat is on
With 50 hot springs projects underway, the US is looking to establish itself as a thermal spa destination. Jane Kitchen takes a closer look
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
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Taichi is the son of celebrated architect Kengo Kuma / photo: Koki
Taichi Kuma, son of the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, has designed a striking new sauna for the Sana Mane glamping destination in southern Japan.
Nestled between a forest and a beach, the 150-layer wooden sauna is built from 5,000 pieces of stacked plywood and curves upwards into a spiral shape inspired by the geometry of seashells and fishtails. In a nod to this, the structure – called Sazae – is named after the Japanese word for the horned turban sea snail’s shell.
Inside the sauna, the pleats of wood are gently shaped to provide a comfortable seating space. The interior is illuminated by natural light from an oculus in the ceiling as well as specialist durable LED lighting.
The temperature and humidity are kept at an optimum level, despite the high ceiling, thanks to environmental simulations and a design which forces ventilation.
Taichi became a partner at Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) in 2020. His father Kengo founded the practice and has worked with leading hospitality brands around the world such as Six Senses, Capella and St Regis.
Kengo’s wellness projects range from one of the largest spas in the Caribbean at Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay and the pixelated stone design of the Yunfeng Spa Resort in China to skincare packaging for Aman and a meditation house at Das Kranzbach spa hotel in Bavaria.
Taichi collaborated with Japan-based sauna brand TTNE to realise the design of Sazae. According to KKAA, Sazae’s linear pleats were pieced together like a puzzle and draw on biomimicry.
The eye-catching sauna has been brought to life on Naoshima island, a creative hotspot known as ‘Japan’s art island’ thanks to its abundance of art museums, sculptures and architecture.
Taichi describes the sauna as a “cave-like space with many twists and turns, cut off from the outside world by a thin wall”. For him, its most important advantage is its ability to help people experience Naoshima’s nature more deeply and profoundly once they exit the sauna.
“Personally, I like saunas where you can detox yourself from digital gadgets, internalise and confront yourself. Saunas have the effect of attracting such natural charm. When you bathe in plenty of moisture and heat, the air you feel afterwards is something else.”
He encourages bathers to use the sauna as part of a contrast thermotherapy cycle and cool off by swimming in the nearby sea.
Reserved for hotel guests only, Sazae must be booked in advance. Guests are allowed to eat and drink inside and are offered bath towels, sauna hats, sauna mats and sandals for free. They can also upgrade their experience by selecting either a herbal or citrus aromatherapy oil to scent the sauna and opt to take in a traditional Finnish vihta – a bunch of young birch leaves used for light slapping on the body to help with circulation.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 2
Editor's letter: Feeling optimistic
Revenue is at an all-time high and democratic wellness is bubbling under. It’s an exciting time for spas, says Katie Barnes
Spa People: Taichi Kuma
The son of celebrated architect Kengo Kuma designs a striking shell-like sauna in Japan
Spa People: Ana Ramirez
On her plans to roll out Ancestral Handmade, her regenerative wellness hotel concept, across South America – starting in Colombia
Spa People: Daniel Golby
On ESPA Life's debut in Doha and the markets he has his eyes set on for future expansion
News report: Milestone moment
US spa industry revenue exceeds the US$20bn mark according to ISPA's latest Big Five statistics
Sponsored: MyBlend: A new vision of beauty
Clarins has elevated its myBlend brand with new tech and formulations, as well as forging powerful alliances with global spa partners
Sponsored: Gharieni: Mind expansion
With the quest for better mental health growing ever stronger in the wake of the global pandemic, we ask Gharieni CEO Sammy Gharieni how the company’s wellness technologies are helping spas to meet this consumer demand
Top team: Hilton
Sleep, fitness and new spa concepts are top of the list as Hilton looks to deliver wellness across its 7,000 properties
Thermal spa: The heat is on
With 50 hot springs projects underway, the US is looking to establish itself as a thermal spa destination. Jane Kitchen takes a closer look
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Blu Spas, Inc. Blu is a full-service firm offering project feasibility, planning and design as well as operational [more...]
