Located in an outstanding place on the Balaruc peninsula, on the French Mediterranean coast, the new Balaruc-les-Bains thermal hot springs and spa facilities can be found. A project bound to unify all the services and the necessary functions for the qualitative management of the spa clients, bearing in mind the fact that DHA (Lyon) and AMG (Montpellier) Architecture Studies have made use of the PORCELANOSA Group materials.
The design of the building is similar to the hull of a boat anchored on the banks of the Thau lagoon, as a tribute to the natural element that comes out in the project, and thus alluding to the sea atmosphere of the area as well as the aim of the project, whose basis is the hot thermal springs. The 16800 square-metre facilities are arranged on six floors accommodating among others 350 care treatment cabins, five swimming-pools and a healthy space in their inside.
The lower floors have been covered with large windows which not only let the sunlight come inside the building but also provide the building with a lot of light, which makes it look as if it was floating; whereas on the upper floors the building has been mostly cladded with the ventilated façade building system by Butech, an interesting option that contributes to ensuring high energy savings by reducing the energy cost for its air conditioning.
2100 square metres of the ventilated façade building system have been tiled with the Pure White through-body porcelain by Urbatek, achieving a continuity effect thanks to the use of large format pieces. Furthermore, this design, which integrates the windows and the corbel, where curved and oblique lines are continued, provides the building with the appearance of a big cruise ship.
Right from the terraces, which are protected by awnings simulating sails, and on the fifth floor, outstanding views of the Thau lagoon can be enjoyed. A unique setting for the largest thermal centre in France, with approximately 46000 visitors and whose waters have been used for therapeutic purposes since the Gallo-Roman period.
