Ritual Body Work

Tenant Buildout | Built | 2019

Ritual Body Work was a massage studio in The Beacon, a converted warehouse in Grant Park, and the practice's second project in the building, next door to Kindred Studio. The owner brought a collection of heirloom art and furnishings to the project, and the design was built around them.

The plan forms a loop. Guests move forward from the entry to reception and the waiting area, then on to the foot bath or down a corridor lined with four massage rooms. The corridor completes the circuit, returning guests directly to the entry, a peaceful progression into the massage and back out again. It became the focal point of the design, framed by an arched opening and wrapped in a bold botanical wallcovering, while the massage rooms were designed in both a dark and light color scheme.

The result was a studio where the path through the space was part of the experience, set against the owner's own collection.

GALLERY

The storefront window of Ritual Body Work, with an illustrated massage therapy graphic.

The waiting area: green velvet chairs and a vintage rug against a teal wall, beside a wood shelving screen with a round mirror.

The waiting area, with teal and red velvet sofas on a vivid patterned rug, and reception beyond.

A teal wall beneath the warehouse windows, leading toward the arched opening to the massage corridor.

The massage corridor, wrapped floor to ceiling in a bold botanical wallcovering, with wood doors to the massage rooms.

A close view of the corridor's botanical wallcovering, in gold, cream, and teal.

A massage room in the light scheme, with patterned wood walls, a woven pendant, and an heirloom textile on the wall.

A massage room in the dark scheme, with deep-toned walls around the massage table.

A robe hanging against the corridor's botanical wallcovering.

The arched opening to the massage corridor beside the reception counter, set with plants.