WELLN ESS
Clients can relax after an 80-minute massage in a serene space with refreshments like juices, scones and Persian tea.
I renewal rain, light and
The team behind Ari. A sought to create an environment that felt both rejuvenating and seamlessly harmonious By J e ss ic a St r i n g er
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chapelhillmagazine.com
January/February 2025
magine the quiet transformation of a passing rain shower: the soft patter against the ground, the cleansing calm and the golden warmth of sunlight breaking through. This natural rhythm is the foundation of the design at the recently opened Ari. A spa in Chapel Hill. “The idea was to create connections with the cleansing nature of a passing rain shower,” explains Albert M. McDonald, AIA, principal and director of design at 310 Architecture + Interiors in Raleigh. “There’s this notion of light and darkness, cleansing and rejuvenation, and moments of reflection before the sun comes back to warm you.” This metaphor became the cornerstone for every design decision, shaping the guest journey through the spa in a way that mirrors the ebb and flow of a rainstorm. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the reception desk with light while a corrugated plaster panel acts as the spa’s central visual anchor with its natural texture. From there, guests transition through spaces that evoke different stages of the storm: rich earth tones and soft