Architectural Studio Chado carves concrete spa into Russian mountain hotel

Located within the Moon2 Hotel at the Arkhyz ski resort, the 260 square metre spa extends the architectural language of the main building into a calm, immersive wellness environment. Rather than introducing a contrasting interior, the project continues the same architectural principles, allowing material, light and landscape to define the experience from the moment visitors enter.

Concrete is the dominant material throughout the space. Treated as the architectural equivalent of natural stone, it gives the interior a quiet sense of permanence while establishing a direct relationship with the surrounding mountain landscape. Its textured surfaces and sculptural quality create an atmosphere that feels both elemental and contemporary, reinforcing the idea that the spa is not an isolated interior but an extension of its natural setting.

The design deliberately avoids visual excess. Furniture is reduced to the absolute minimum, allowing architecture itself to become the primary spatial experience. Proportion, texture and carefully controlled daylight replace decorative elements, creating an environment where attention shifts naturally toward material and landscape rather than objects.

Large floor to ceiling glazing plays a central role in the project. Panoramic views of the Caucasus Mountains continuously draw the landscape into the interior, dissolving the conventional boundary between inside and outside. Throughout the day, changing light transforms the exposed concrete surfaces, while the surrounding scenery becomes an active part of the spatial composition rather than simply a backdrop.

At the heart of the spa is a monolithic concrete pool conceived as though it were carved directly from the surrounding rock. Its solid geometry reinforces the project’s material continuity while emphasizing the relationship between architecture and terrain. Positioned precisely at the threshold between interior and exterior, the pool extends across both environments. Only a glazed opening separates the indoor and outdoor sections, allowing water, reflections and mountain views to merge into a single uninterrupted experience.

This restrained architectural language demonstrates how minimal intervention can produce a rich sensory atmosphere. By relying on a single material palette, generous natural light and uninterrupted views, Moon2 Spa creates a place where architecture quietly recedes, allowing the surrounding landscape to become the defining element of the experience.

Project Credit

Project name: “Spa complex” Moon2 at the Arkhyz ski resort
Location: The Arkhyz ski resort, Karachayevo-Cherkessia, Russia
Object area: 260 m²
Design Firm: Chado Architects / @chado
Photographer: Nikita Subbotin