Perth thermal spa facility approved despite council opposition

The Western Australian Planning Commission has approved a proposal to build the state's largest spa facility: the $25 million Tawarri Hot Springs, designed by Plus Architecture.

Looking out over the Derbarl Yerrigan/Swan River in the ritzy Perth suburb of Dalkeith, the facility will be built on the site of the run-down Tawarri Reception Centre - once home to the historic open-air Dalkeith Hot Pool, which was known for attracting skinny dippers.

The facility will feature pools, saunas and Turkish baths alongside a restaurant, rooftop bar, cafe and day spa. It will cater to up to 220 guests at a time.

The built form will comprise a series of orthogonal pavilions, which Aspect Studios carefully integrated with the landscape design. Plus Architecture Perth director and project lead Patric Przeradzki said the design aimed to emphasize the site's natural beauty through an interplay of natural materials.

"We have focused on a series of design contrasts in this project, such as hot and cold, dark and light, indoor and outdoor," he said. "These encourage a sense of curiosity as guests explore the different pavilions and routes they can take across the site."

Plus Architecture looked to Europe for inspiration, incorporating features seen in spas in France and Italy.

"Our research enabled us to understand how these wellness destinations serve both the individual and the community," said Przeradzki.