Sid Lee Architecture has reworked the urban spa concept with a floating Scandinavian spa built on a former 1950's era ferry in Montreal.

Two years in the building, the ferry, the former "Arthur Cardin", is 170 feet long and now has five levels that contain a reception area, a cafe, saunas, baths, massage and relaxation rooms as well as an outdoor terrace.

Upper floor restaurant

Sauna

Sid Lee wanted to create a space that offered "a dialog between introspection once the visitor was on board the ship and extrospection once he or she was on the upper decks and took in the panoramic views."

Central staircase

Reception

Lounge

One of the 20 treatment rooms

Spaces closer to the water are more somber, created to instill a sense of intimacy helped along by the more than 670 portholes that circle the ship. Says Sid Lee "We therefore move from water to sky, from obscurity to clarity."

Some of the 670+ prefabricated portholes

Hallway to treatment rooms

Upper deck pool, part of a hot and cold water circuit

Lockers located in the former engine room

Upper deck lounge

Geothermal energy from the St-Lawrence river below the ship powers some of Bota Bota's energy needs

+ sidlee.com
+ botabota.ca