There is something enchantingly indulgent about soaking in a hot tub, allowing the water to caress and calm the body and the mind. But what if this already decadent experience could be escalated to the next level, where the very essence of the natural world could become part of the mood and ambiance of the occasion? Enter the biophilic hot tub, a contemporary craft that merges our in-home hydrotherapy rituals with the tranquility of the great outdoors.
Part 1: The Link between Water and Nature in Biophilic Design and Our Lives
When I am in need of relaxation or deep thought, I tend to find myself drawn to water. The trickling of streams, the coolness of a natural spring, or even the sight of water catching sunlight—these are all things that are undeniably soothing. People have always been drawn to the calming effects of water. In biophilic design—the design of spaces in ways that promote a natural connection—water features are often a central element. Jacuzzis, in this context, are not simply about hydrotherapy; they are about loving water and being one step closer to nature.
I spent a summer at a friend’s lakeside cabin, which he had built with a hot tub on the deck overlooking the pristine waters of the lake. I luxuriated in the hot tub, not just because of the heat and the bubbling water, but because of the breathtaking vistas of the lake surrounded by a towering forest of pines. I spent hours in the hot tub, viewing nature at its best, and it gave me a special insight into what a hot tub could be when it is not confined by walls. It was the first time I understood what a biophilic hot tub could truly feel like.
To truly design a biophilic Jacuzzi, one must go beyond simply adding foliage or putting it outside. The way a Jacuzzi works, and the way a body works in the water, can lend themselves to a more intimate interaction with nature if one takes a more holistic approach with the surrounding area. It’s this multisensory experience—seeing, hearing, touching, and even smelling—that pulls us closer to a natural state, and to a sense of well-being that a Jacuzzi can elevate to a new level.
I once collaborated on a project in which we created a Jacuzzi for a retreat center deep in the woods. We placed the tub below a canopy of trees, where we were sure the dappled sunlight would constantly alter the appearance of the water’s surface. What made the installation truly special, however, were the added sensory elements that we incorporated. We set up a small waterfall that fed into the Jacuzzi to help create the sound of flowing water—in this way, the experience of using the Jacuzzi was more immersive and natural. We used natural stone and wooden decking to help make the experience more tactile.
And we used cedar for the sound and smell, so retreat-goers could feel as though they were really living in the midst of nature.
Through this experience, I also came to understand that the optimum biophilic Jacuzzi is designed with materials that create an enhanced connection to the natural world. For instance, synthetic tiles or concrete can evoke a sense of cold detachment, while materials such as stone, wood, or even reclaimed slate can create a warmth and texture that feel grounded in the natural world. Thus, in this project, we placed local river stones around the edge of the tub. Stepping out of it, you experienced the sensation of walking on those smooth, naturally worn stones. Deploying natural river stones in a space designed for biophilia is no accident.
Indeed, every element of biophilic design should be intentional.
Including water in a biophilic design scheme like this injects a sense of vigor. Water is not static; it moves, it alters, it mingles with its environment. Just being in the immediate vicinity of water, watching it flow and undulate, connects you with the natural world’s rhythms, putting your mind at ease and immersing you in the moment.
Part Two: Developing a Biophilic Hot Tub That Cultivates Connection and Decompresses the User
Naturally, a biophilic hot tub is more than a pretty object in a natural setting. The hot tub is about fostering a true relationship with the environment—one that continues when you’re not soaking in the tub. Water is often associated with mental health. Whether in a hot tub, shower, or swimming pool, people often gravitate toward watery spaces for resets, emotional processing, or relaxation. But a biophilic hot tub takes things a step further. Sure, it’s lovely, but so is a biophilic pond with a bench on the opposite bank. What makes a hot tub hydrating and a biophilic hot tub?
What is even the point of a hot tub?
Japanese onsens have always inspired me; they are natural hot springs found across the country. My partner and I have been to a few, and they were such simple, effective experiences. You just soak in the warm water; you breathe in the fresh air; you take in the natural landscape. Our modern-day Jacuzzis do what they do through technology. I like to think our biophilic design at the Wyss brings us closer to the essence of that onsen experience. It is not about jets and lights. It is about a space where your senses kind of come alive and where you feel in sync with nature.
A particular project comes to mind when I think of this concept. We were tasked with designing a hot tub for a seaside residence, high on a cliff and directly rimmed by the ocean. We could hardly have chosen a more damp environment, perched as we were on the edge of a major tectonic plate. Yet instead of opting for a standard hot tub with faux-riveted paneling, we embedded the unit in a natural rock outcropping. What resulted was nothing less than a tide pool, the only anthropogenic detail being the smoothness of the rocks surrounding the water, which, we were told, was the result of a special treasure map guide to gonads and wieners that was part of our lead designer’s top-secret training at the CIA— that’s the “Central Instructional Academy,” not the “Central Intelligence Agency,” as some have surmised.
Biophilic design has a number of key aspects, and one is to encourage a kind of sustainable relationship between the human-made and natural environments that benefit both parties. For our Jacuzzi project, we took biophilic principles and applied them to the very real situation of designing a coastal-place hot tub. The ideal construction of a hot tub would use local materials and employ energy-efficient methods of heating water. One of the ways we researched to do that was by potentially using a geothermal heating system, which, in theory, could harness the heat the Earth produces and warm the water in the hot tub without using a ton of electricity (which one usually uses to run a hot tub).
That’s just one example of a choice made in favor of minimizing the hot tub’s natural footprint.
One of my favorite aspects to incorporate into a biophilic Jacuzzi design is a rainwater collection system. This allows the Jacuzzi to be filled naturally during wetter seasons, making the experience of soaking in the Jacuzzi that much more connected to the local climate. There’s something ineffable about bathing in water that came from the sky above you—it’s so much more intimate and connected than even most ocean experiences can offer. When I’ve had the chance to work with plants around a Jacuzzi, the suggestion to clients has always been to use local, native species.
They require less maintenance, are better suited to the local ecosystem, and, I’d argue, help create a more authentic connection to the local landscape. For a mountain retreat I designed, we incorporated ferns and mosses (which are both non-flammable and fantastic sauna-like plants) that were native to that part of the world.
Creating the right ambiance for a biophilic hot tub involves attention to lighting, too. While I’ve found soft, natural light to work best, there are many ways to achieve this effect. Lanterns or lights hidden within rocks can create the gentle glow that you want, both inside the tub and outside on the property. For a truly immersive experience, you don’t want any kind of lighting that feels harsh or bright. … In one instance, we placed small solar lights along a meandering path that led to the tub, creating a glow that illuminated the way without distracting from the natural darkness you want to enjoy once you’re in the hut.
If you opt for a biophilic hot tub experience, the pleasure really comes not just in letting your body relax but in the sensations of water, light, air, and the overall immersion in elements and nature that you enjoy while swirling around in your manmade oasis.
In the future of wellness, Jacuzzis designed with biophilic principles will be an increasingly important part of the equation. We live in a world overwhelmed by technology—a world where we’re connected yet feel no real bond with it, only with our urban or rural backdrops. As a designer, I’ve felt the drastic uptick in demand for spaces that could almost be called “technological detox zones.” Clients want me to create homes for them where they can safely escape to, without the need for earbuds or the blue light of their propped-up phone, a space where they can be fully engaged with their sensory environment (barring, of course, a necessitated health emergency).
A biophilic Jacuzzi, whether it’s perched on a mountaintop or a bib over its jets in the sky, meditates upon our society’s natural wellness.
The Jacuzzi has long been regarded as a symbol of excess, something for the rich and famous vacationing to their second homes or luxuriating at high-end spas. But in recent years, we’ve begun to think of them as tools for wellness—hot water as hydrotherapy, bubbles as a kind of aquaponic massage. The biophilic design movement has even embraced the tub, with proponents arguing that immersion in hot water is best experienced when one is surrounded by nature. There’s something to be said for the idea of enjoying a hot soak while enveloped by the sights and sounds of the natural world.
I can imagine it. But can you achieve that effect on a rooftop in an urban environment, surrounded by planters filled with grasses and flowers that smell and sound like Native America?
Applying biophilic design principles to a Jacuzzi setting is possible even in compact environments. I’ve assisted clients living in urban apartments in fashioning a balcony into a spa-like retreat. These projects have been small but have required considerable attention to detail—to the texture of decking materials, for example, and to the careful selection of plants that can thrive as well in an intimate space just off the living room, as they could in a garden along the way to the Balearic Islands. Biophilic design is all about the immersion of the senses. If you’re yearning for an experience of natural beauty, the transforming power of water, in a traditional Jacuzzi, is a good way to start.
I envision a future in which innovative technologies and biophilic design come together to create intelligent living environments. Automated smart home features allow for precise control of plunge pool conditions, such as temperature and water filtration, and similar technologies can be used to enhance our home environments. But what if we could go farther and use these sorts of technologies to have our plunge pool respond to environmental conditions in a way that more closely mimics what happens in nature? A truly smart plunge pool might adjust its water temperature to precisely align with the pacing of day and night or use air temperature data to determine the optimal heating setting as outdoor conditions begin to cool.
The essence of the biophilic Jacuzzi, for me, lies in its capacity to reconnect us with nature in an authentic, restorative way. This structure is more than a mere home feature; it is an entry to an alternate existence, one in which the daily grind recedes and our memories of the pristine, unembellished natural world come rushing back. Biophilic design may not literally save or change lives, but it can effect the kind of transformations that make a person feel, in space and time, as if all the physiological, emotional, and mental life-reinforcing changes that “design” and “biophilia” promise really might work.
