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RARE Wellness Studio by AR13

Architecture

21-02-2026

Photographer : Phx India / Ira Gosalia

Text provided by Architect

The Rare Wellness Studio is a monolithic Corten steel volume that deploys the poetic 'Coconut Metaphor' to resolve the chaotic energy of the Porbandar National Highway into a sanctuary of seamless internal harmony.

Conceived by AR13 on a prominent 7,300 sq. ft. site along the Gujarati coast, the project faced unique challenges. The location, situated directly on the busy National Highway, presented a constant barrage of visual and auditory noise, demanding an architecture capable of creating a total retreat. Furthermore, the site's coastal proximity introduced a significant environmental constraint: the constant threat of salt-air corrosion and intense heat, which necessitated a highly resilient material strategy.

The commission was driven by a dual mandate from the client. First, to create a Vastu-compliant sanctuary that housed comprehensive physical and aesthetic well-being programs. Second, and equally important, was the ambition to establish an expressive architectural landmark that could set a new precedent for material exploration and construction precision in a smaller Indian city.

Porbandar,Gujarat,India

Architects : AR13
Area : 12,524.56 sq. ft.
Year of Completion : 2025
Website : https://instagram.com/studio_ar13?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==

Exterior view of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13

The entire design is governed by the 'Coconut Metaphor,' defining the structure's powerful duality. The external shell is a sharp, rugged block, designed to be uncompromisingly defensive against the harsh external environment. In stark contrast, the internal world is a seamless continuum of restorative volumes, where all sharp corners and edges are deliberately dissolved by continuous curves and elliptical geometries. The architecture actively participates in the therapeutic process, guiding the user from a state of external conflict to one of internal harmony. The placement of the specialised Detached Consultation (Top-Floor OPD) was strategic, isolating the medical consultation experience on the highest floor to afford users a space of contemplative privacy.

The building’s tectonic expression is defined by its resilience. Given the corrosion challenges, the selection of 3mm Corten steel panels for the exterior cladding was an innovative act of material honesty. Rather than masking the environmental effects, the Corten is allowed to oxidise and evolve naturally, forming a rich, self-protecting patina of rust that guarantees the structure's enduring presence while lending it a dynamic, temporal quality. Underneath this assertive façade, the structure employs a robust RCC frame utilising local sandstone for thermal mass, grounding the project in local material sensibility while advancing a contemporary aesthetic. Internally, the transition from public Marble to the hygienic, seamless finish of Terrazzo Tile in treatment rooms further defines the sensory experience.


Exterior view of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Exterior view of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Waterbody of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Reception Area of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Reception & Waiting Lounge of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Waiting Lounge of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13

The journey into the Studio is meticulously orchestrated as a sensory ritual designed to facilitate immediate decompression. The user approaches via a floating ramp that ascends to the Raised Ground floor, running parallel to an infinity-edge water body. This deliberate level difference, along with the waterfall's visual/auditory buffer, creates a crucial decompression zone. Internally, light is treated as a sculptural medium: light-catcher voids draw soft, natural illumination deep into the core, and a structural innovation that bends slab edges on the Northeast sides allows the building to borrow dynamic top light, ensuring the curvilinear interiors are illuminated without glare.


Waiting Lounge of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Staircase of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Staircase of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Second floor waiting lounge of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13

The Rare Wellness Studio is not merely a functional facility; it is an engine for change in its locality. The execution of the complex, custom Corten steel installation and the highly precise fabrication required for the seamless internal curves demanded an extraordinary level of workmanship. This meticulous process served as a direct educational infusion for local craftsmen, setting a new benchmark for construction precision and establishing a vital reference point for the future development of modern architecture in smaller Indian cities. The Studio stands as an enduring testament to the power of design to transform challenging contexts into profound sanctuaries.


Second floor waiting lounge of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Second floor waiting lounge of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Hair & Nail Salon of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Procedure room of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Procedure room of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


MD Office of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


MD Office of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


MD Office of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Terrace of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Dusk light exterior view of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Dusk light exterior view of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Ground Floor Plan of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Raised Ground Floor Plan of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


First Floor Plan of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Second Floor Plan of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Third Floor Plan of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Terrace Plan of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section AA of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section BB of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section CC of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section DD of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section EE of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section FF of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section GG of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13


Section HH of RARE Wellness Studio by AR13



Tags
wellness-centre
architecture
interior-design
healthcare-architecture
healthcare-interior
2025
10000-to-20000-sq.ft
india
gujarat
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