Conceived as a nexus of relaxation, wellness and good food, The Banya is a boutique day spa in Mullumbimby, a scenic Australian town a two-hour’s drive south of Brisbane, where guests can also enjoy a long lunch, wine, cocktails and health elixirs. Set in a former bank built in 1929, the venue combines a laidback ambience with understated elegance courtesy of interior designer and creative director Mardi Borrack from Style Agenda who has complemented the building’s architectural heritage with an Art Deco-inspired aesthetic of contemporary freshness. Featuring a lap pool, three large hot mineral pools, a wood-fired sauna, steam room and?cold plunge, plus five?treatment rooms, a rooftop sundeck for post-treatment relaxation, and stylish social spaces, The Banya offers a modern twist on a traditional European bathhouse ('banya' is a type of steam bath popular in Russia)?in line with the area’s coastal lifestyle and exotic charm.

Thoughtfully renovated, the building’s historic character is highlighted through elements such as the brick patterns of the exposed masonry structure and the modest decorative moulding as well as the original bank safes. Hand-painted finishes by local artisans and luxurious soft furnishings harmoniously complement the former bank’s austere sensibility while a muted palette of earthy hues and convivial pastels imbue the spaces with a soothing ambience.

Borrack has drawn inspiration from the Art Deco architecture style that was prevalent in Australia during the 1920s and 1930s when the building originates from, developing a geometric language of circular forms. Curvaceous leather and velvet banquettes with fluted backrests, round tables with marble tops, cylindrical bolster pillows, and spherical lamps introduce a sense of playful elegance in the cool down lounge, dining and bar area, and rooftop sundeck, while forest green and white checkerboard tiling in the outdoor pool terrace make for a graphic focal point.

Artfully styled down to the very last detail, the outdoor and indoor areas are nevertheless welcoming and unpretentious offering guests an immersive social, bathing and dining experience that includes soaking in the hot mineral pool, indulging in a massage therapy, enjoying a signature cocktail in the sundeck, or sitting down for a leisurely lunch with healthy yet sumptuous small plate options such as rock oysters on ice, ceviche of kingfish, and truffle, pork and prawn dumplings.