THE GRADING BUILDING - WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE INSPIRED BY NATURE

The Grading Building reimagines the historic salt-grading towers of Central Europe through the lens of contemporary parametric design and sustainable architecture. Commissioned by Therme Group, the project serves as a wellness retreat where nature, geometry, and technology converge to create an immersive architectural experience.

This circular structure features a dome-lit atrium surrounded by modular capsules and cascading staircases that integrate seating and circulation. The design celebrates balance and symmetry while maintaining a dynamic interplay between light, air, and form. The building’s layered arrangement around a central pool encourages both physical and sensory rejuvenation, echoing the purifying qualities of traditional saline structures.

Historically, Gradierwerke were monumental timber constructions used to concentrate salt solutions through natural evaporation. Their porous blackthorn walls filtered air and released aerosols believed to have therapeutic benefits, a tradition that inspired the spatial and material philosophy of the Grading Building.

In Mamou-Mani’s interpretation, this legacy is translated into a parametric architectural system that blends geometry, craftsmanship, and bio-inspired design. Modular capsules follow a precise mathematical pattern, while faceted columns, suspended pools, and wooden PLA panels form a dialogue between natural materials and digital fabrication.

The result is an architectural ecosystem that is part temple, part wellness pavilion, honouring historical salt-making methods while fostering health, connection, and environmental harmony.